In 2026, power systems around the world continued to highlight the importance of advanced monitoring and fast fault detection. From evolving disturbances to hidden incipient events, our SynchroGuard solution has demonstrated their ability to provide deep visibility into grid behavior, enabling operators to act before issues escalate.
Evolving Fault event in an MV grid in Perù
One of the most remarkable events recorded this year involved an evolving fault in Perù in January. What initially appeared as a single-phase fault progressively developed into a two-phase and eventually a three-phase fault, representing a clear example of how disturbances can escalate if not properly understood.
Our SynchroGuard solution successfully identified and located the affected area. The system provided accurate situational awareness that allowed operators to understand the progression of the fault.
This event occurred in an MV network where the transformer neutral is isolated, where single-phase faults are relatively common. In such systems, fault currents are typically limited, but voltage behavior becomes critical: healthy phase voltages can rise significantly due to neutral shift. The ability to track this evolution in real time proved essential for diagnosing the phenomenon and supporting grid stability.
Incipient Fault in a Private European Network
Later in the same month, SynchroGuard identified an incipient fault within a private network in Europe: an event that would have been extremely difficult to detect using conventional protection systems.
Despite its very short duration and low fault current, the disturbance was captured thanks to the high sensitivity of Zaphiro’s fault location solution and the high-resolution waveform data recorded by its SynchroSense devices. This early detection, combined with manual inspection, enabled targeted preventive maintenance.
The result: a potentially destructive fault was avoided, along with costly unplanned downtime demonstrating the tangible value of predictive grid monitoring.
Restriking Faults in South America
Between February and March, a series of incipient restriking faults were detected in another MV network with an isolated neutral in South America. These events were particularly challenging: they were not registered by traditional protection devices and would likely have remained unnoticed without advanced analytics.
However, detailed waveform analysis revealed that all events shared a common signature, pointing to a single underlying cause. SynchroGuard identified the presence of a permanent fault condition that required intervention.
Following maintenance activities, the restriking faults completely disappeared, confirming the accuracy of the diagnosis and the effectiveness of the corrective actions.
From Detection to Prevention
These real-world cases highlight a crucial shift in power system management: moving from reactive protection to proactive and data-driven maintenance.
By turning raw grid data into actionable insights, SynchroGuard empowers operators to detect early warning signs, prevent major failures and ensure a more resilient and reliable energy infrastructure.
As grids continue to evolve, the ability to anticipate faults, rather than simply react to them, will define the next generation of power system operations.
