VigieCâble: a leading consortium to revolutionize dynamic subsea cable monitoring

Selected through the DEMO-TASE call for projects, VigieCâble is funded by the French government as part of the France 2030 plan, operated by ADEME. The project has been awarded over €2.4 million in support to accelerate the transition of this breakthrough solution from a laboratory prototype (TRL 4) to pre-commercial industrial maturity (TRL 8).

Addressing a strategic challenge for marine energies

As offshore floating infrastructure—such as wind farms, tidal turbines, and interconnection grids—continues to expand, the reliability of subsea cables has become a major economic and operational hurdle, particularly regarding dynamic cables. These cables are subjected to the constant movements of the floaters as well as the relentless forces of waves and currents. Consequently, they are critical components whose failure can lead to severe operational disruptions. In response, VigieCâble offers an innovative approach based on Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS). The solution will automatically detect and provide early warnings for signals indicating potential failures in dynamic subsea cables.

A collaborative effort driven by innovation

The project brings together four partners with complementary expertise: 

• FEBUS Optics: A global leader in DFOS technology, providing cutting-edge measurement equipment and expertise in data acquisition and interpretation.
• EDF: As a leading operator with deep knowledge of predictive maintenance for energy infrastructure, EDF ensures the solution meets real-world operational needs and field use cases.
• Centrale Nantes: Recognized for its academic and technical excellence, the school is bringing together three laboratories for this project — LHEEA, GeM, and LS2N. It contributes to the project through its expertise in mechanical modeling of dynamic subsea cables, the execution of physical tests in ocean engineering tanks with wave excitation, and the development of data analysis methods for anomaly detection and characterization.
• Fondation OPEN-C: As the operator of five French offshore testing sites for floating wind and MRE, it provides the infrastructure and services to test solutions at sea, reducing costs, risks, and accelerating offshore innovation.

Launch of the Vigiecâble project

An ambitious 4-year roadmap

Launched in early 2026 with a 48-month duration, VigieCâble is structured around three key phases:

1. State of the art & preliminary testing
   Laboratory testing on cable samples and initial offshore measurement campaigns.
2. est bench simulations
   In-depth studies on test benches to optimize the interpretation of fiber optic signals and better understand the mechanical behavior of cables.
3. Full-scale real-world trials
   Deployment in operational environments at offshore test sites to validate performance, reliability, and industrial viability.
    

Launching a sovereign, breakthrough solution

Upon completion, VigieCâble aims to deliver a robust, scalable solution tailored to the needs of the maritime and offshore industries. By combining their expertise, the consortium intends to reduce maintenance costs (OPEX) and maximize the lifespan of offshore energy transmission infrastructure.