Sensible Photonics To Lead Tech-To-Market Strategy For Marine Carbon Capture Technology Funded By ARPA-E

Jun 28

2 min read

Pittsburgh, PA – June 28, 2024 – Sensible Photonics will partner with researchers at University of Pittsburgh and National Energy Technology Laboratory to develop buoy-based optical fiber sensors for measuring pH and carbon dioxide in seawater from the ocean’s surface to the seafloor. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) as part of the ARPA-E Sensing Exports of Anthropogenic Carbon Through Ocean Observation (SEA-CO2) program.

Sensible Photonics' co-founder and RK Mellon Faculty Fellow in Energy and associate professor at Pitt, and principal investigator, Dr. Paul Ohodnicki said,

"Our project seeks to enable distributed optical fiber sensing from the ocean surface to the floor through low-cost distributed sensor technology "right-sized" for mobile marine sensing applications. By improving our ability to monitor and quantify physical and chemical parameters throughout the ocean in combination with advanced models, the benefits of marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) can be more clearly quantified in terms of potential for large-scale decarbonization."

Sensible Photonics, a spin-off out of University of Pittsburgh, will be responsible for developing the program technology to market plan and commercialization strategy.

“Leveraging our team’s deep experience and prior commercialization successes in novel sensing technologies across numerous market segments, we will be working in close collaboration with the project partners to assess the technology and commercial landscape”,

said John Belechak, Sensible Photonics Technology to Market lead for the program.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with ARPA-E and the project team to drive commercialization plan development and execution, and are excited to impact the adoption of this important technology to support high priority Department of Energy goals.”

About Sensible Photonics Inc.

At Sensible Photonics Inc., we are dedicated to envisioning a world free from catastrophic power equipment failures through our advanced optical fiber monitoring solutions. Our innovative technology, developed over more than a decade through collaborations with the University of Pittsburgh and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), offers early detection of potential failures in critical grid assets such as distribution transformers and energy storage systems. Recognized with prestigious awards including the R&D 100 and ARPA-E, our solutions provide a comprehensive sensing platform that delivers real-time insights into temperature, chemical, and strain conditions. Designed to reduce risks and enhance operational efficiency, our simplified fiber optic sensors are ideal for monitoring distribution transformers and energy storage systems, ensuring a more reliable and safer energy infrastructure. Based in Pittsburgh, Sensible Photonics is committed to advancing technology that supports the longevity and health of energy systems, enabling utilities and industries to operate with greater confidence and reduced risk.

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Media Contact

Nick Frank, President & CCO

Sensible Photonics, Inc.

nick.frank@sensiblephotonics.com

(614) 915.4015