How a ‘magic ball’ plans to help MN’s electrical grid [Video]

MAPLE GROVE, Minnesota — When it comes to power grid efficiency, there’s no magic bullet. But what about a magic ball? 

The Norwegian-based Heimdall Power is behind a sphere-shaped sensor that the company refers to as “neurons.” The press has referred to them as “magic balls.” 

Whatever you call them, they have the power to increase the capacity of transmission lines. The sensor is placed on a power line and then provides all kinds of real-time information, including the temperature of the line. 

“When the line becomes too hot, it sags… sometimes they don’t know at what temperature it will give a certain sag so they operate too conservatively. We simply make it safe to utilize the whole capacity,” said Jørgen Festervoll, CEO of Heimdall Power. 

Heimdall explained it …