We are excited to launch the #MeetTheCABLEGNOSISTeam interview series—an initiative that brings you closer to the people behind the CABLEGNOSIS project. In this first feature, we speak with Dr. Christos A. Christodoulou, Project Coordinator of CABLEGNOSIS and Assistant Professor at High Voltage Laboratory, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS), to gain insight into the project’s vision, challenges and the critical role of AI and innovation in shaping the future of power cable systems.

“Innovation in power cables is not just about performance—it’s about resilience, sustainability and preparing our grids for the energy transition.”
– Ass. Professor Christos A. Christodoulou

 

Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?

My name is Christos Christodoulou and I’m an Ass. Professor at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and a researcher engineer at the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS). My academic and research background focuses on high-voltage engineering, lightning protection, insulation coordination and power quality. I have over 15 years of teaching and research experience, and I’ve been involved in more than 25 national and EU-funded projects related to smart grids, cable systems and energy efficiency.

 

What is ICCS’s role in the CABLEGNOSIS project?

ICCS is the coordinator of the CABLEGNOSIS project, responsible for the overall project management and coordination. Beyond coordination, ICCS plays a leading role in several key technical tasks, including:

– Development and validation of novel cable design tools for increased transmission capacity
– Development and integration of the CABLEGNOSIS Life Cycle Center IT platform
– Contribution to the impact analysis of water absorption on ageing of lead-free wet-design HVDC and high-power cables
– Validation testing in Greece
– Pathways for reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly HVAC/HVDC and high-power cable systems

These contributions reflect ICCS’s leading role in both the technical and strategic dimensions of the project, especially in the fields of cable design, digital platforms, environmental analysis and system validation.

 

Why is AI innovation so critical for power grids?

Traditional electrical grids were designed for one-way power flow and manual maintenance. But today, with renewables, electric vehicles and decentralised energy sources, grids need to be smarter and more flexible. That’s where AI makes a difference, as it enables us to detect faults, predict failures and optimise maintenance. In CABLEGNOSIS, we use AI to turn raw sensor data from cables into useful insights. This not only prevents outages but also helps extend the lifetime of critical infrastructure, making the energy system more reliable and cost-effective.

 

What challenges are you currently tackling in the project?

A key challenge is ensuring interoperability across diverse sensor systems, cable types and environmental conditions. This complexity can impact the accuracy and scalability of our AI models. To address it, we are building adaptive, modular algorithms that can be fine-tuned for different datasets and use cases. As coordinators, we also work to maintain strong collaboration across technical and industrial partners, ensuring smooth integration between physical components, sensing technologies and digital tools.

 

What kind of impact do you believe CABLEGNOSIS will have?

I believe CABLEGNOSIS will enable grid operators to move from reactive to predictive maintenance, saving both time and resources. It will reduce unexpected failures, support the smooth operation of underground and submarine cables and help future-proof the grid as energy systems become more decentralised and data-driven. The tools and methods we’re developing can also support policy and standardisation efforts across Europe by demonstrating the value of advanced diagnostics and AI in real-world grid environments.

 

Are there any resources you’d like to share?

You can find my publications on Google Scholar and Scopus. I’m also an active member of the Greek National Committee of CIGRE, where I regularly contribute to knowledge exchange on high-voltage technologies.

 

Closing Thoughts

This interview marks the official kick-off of the #MeetTheCABLEGNOSISTeam series—an initiative to spotlight the experts, engineers, and innovators powering CABLEGNOSIS. As Project Coordinator, Ass. Professor Christodoulou provides a clear vision of where the project is headed and how it aims to transform the energy infrastructure across Europe.