PANDORA
Predictive Detection of Disturbances and Faults in the Distribution Grid
Developing a digital solution for a more reliable, efficient and resilient electricity distribution grid
PANDORA is a research and development project focused on developing a digital solution to enhance distribution grid observability, providing better and more timely insight into the condition of the grid and its equipment. The solution is designed to predictively detect operational disturbances and potential equipment faults in substations that step down electricity from medium to low voltage for onward distribution to end users.
PANDORA combines conventional sensor and remote measurements with high-speed, high-precision dPMU/PMU synchrophasor measurements of voltage and current. The collected data is processed by machine learning and artificial intelligence models that identify patterns, deviations and early signs of equipment deterioration. The results are presented through a clear user interface, showing substation condition, key measurements, detected anomalies, assessed risks and recommended intervention priorities.
The project aims to develop and qualify PANDORA as a commercial product—a predictive monitoring software module ready for deployment at scale and integration with systems already used by operators. It will be available to new users as an integrated solution and to existing users of Comping’s Thaora platform as an additional module that extends the platform’s existing capabilities with predictive analytics.
The Problem PANDORA Addresses
Secondary substations rated at 10(20)/0.4 kV are among the less digitalised parts of the distribution grid. While higher voltage levels are generally covered by advanced monitoring systems, operators often have limited visibility into the condition of secondary substations. As a result, disturbances are frequently detected only after an outage, a protection trip or an on-site intervention, leading to longer diagnostic processes, higher costs and an increased risk of supply interruptions.
PANDORA is intended to enable a transition from reactive to predictive maintenance, with interventions planned according to actual equipment condition, detected anomalies and assessed risk levels.
Why Developing This Solution Matters Now
Distribution grids are becoming increasingly dynamic. The growth of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, heat pumps and battery systems is creating greater fluctuations and bidirectional power flows, while operators are also facing rising maintenance costs and a shortage of field resources.
In this environment, detecting a fault after it has occurred is no longer sufficient. It is necessary to identify the changes that precede it in time and enable action before the problem causes an interruption or more severe equipment damage. PANDORA responds to this need with an affordable, scalable and interoperable solution that connects to existing infrastructure without requiring the complete replacement of existing systems.
Primary Users
PANDORA’s primary users are electricity distribution system operators—the teams responsible for monitoring grid operations, maintaining equipment, planning investments and managing technical data. Households, businesses and public services benefit indirectly through a more reliable electricity supply and fewer, shorter interruptions.
Expected Outcomes and Benefits for Users
PANDORA is intended to help users identify facilities and equipment requiring attention at an earlier stage and base maintenance on actual condition and assessed risk, rather than on a fixed schedule or after a fault has occurred. This is expected to reduce unnecessary site visits, accelerate the identification of root causes and improve the planning of repairs and resources.
The project will assess the potential to reduce unnecessary site visits by up to 65%, shorten time to repair by 40–50%, reduce maintenance costs by 20–25% and reduce the number of unexpected equipment failures by up to 70%. These figures represent project targets that will be validated during development and pilot implementation.
PANDORA’s Innovation
PANDORA brings together multiple technologies in a unified solution specifically tailored to secondary substations, which are currently often less closely monitored than the rest of the power grid. The system combines sensor measurements and high-precision dPMU measurements with artificial intelligence models whose results are explainable to users. It is not tied to a single equipment manufacturer and can be introduced gradually, without completely replacing existing infrastructure.
Partners and Their Roles
The project is being implemented by CompING kompjutorski inženjering d.o.o., the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, and RADIO-MOTO d.o.o.
Comping is the project lead and system architect, responsible for platform development, data infrastructure, analytics integration, the API, the user interface, security, productisation and commercialisation. FER is the scientific and methodological partner, responsible for developing the PMU/dPMU methodology, mathematical modelling and AI/ML models. Radio-Moto is the field implementation and integration partner, responsible for measurement and communication equipment, installation and field testing.
Strategic Significance for Comping
PANDORA is an important part of Comping’s strategy to develop its own digital products for the energy sector. The project builds directly on the Thaora platform and brings together Comping’s capabilities in software development, IoT technologies, data engineering, artificial intelligence and systems integration, further strengthening its expertise in predictive diagnostics and product development for critical infrastructure.
The project runs for 36 months and is implemented through two development phases—industrial research and experimental development—followed by commercialisation.
Key Project Information
Project title:
Development of a Digital Solution for the Predictive Detection of Operational Disturbances or Equipment Faults in Medium-to-Low Voltage Substations – PANDORA
Project lead:
CompING kompjutorski inženjering d.o.o.
Total project value:
EUR 2,827,715.31
Total eligible costs:
EUR 2,827,715.31
EU funding contribution:
EUR 1,936,280.86
Implementation period:
February 2026 – 31 January 2029
Contact person for further information:
Alojzije Jukić, CompING kompjutorski inženjering d.o.o.
The project is co-funded by the European Union and is implemented under the Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme (PKK), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.