SynchroGuard: Software and PMU solution for monitoring, fault location and automation of power distribution networks

Zaphiro Technologies SA

Renens (Lausanne)New on Amplifa

2017Founded

20Employees

1Location (Renens, Switzerland)

10–20 %Measurement coverage for full grid visibility

About Zaphiro Technologies

Zaphiro Technologies SA is a Swiss deep-tech company based in Renens near Lausanne, which emerged from a spin-off of EPFL. The company develops and manufactures the SynchroGuard platform, a monitoring and automation system for medium-voltage distribution networks based on Phasor Measurement Units (D-PMU). The hardware comprises SynchroSense devices, D-PMUs and flexible Rogowski coil sensors, which measure voltage, current and phase angle with high resolution and time synchronization in accordance with IEEE C37.118. The software enables real-time state estimation, fault location in under one second, FLISR automation and AI-supported predictive maintenance, and can be integrated into existing SCADA/ADMS systems and third-party sensors. Customers are public and private distribution network operators, microgrid operators and players in the energy sector in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and South America, including Pluz Energía Perú and QEERI in Doha. With around 20 employees at one site, Zaphiro is ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified and works, among others, with ABB, Ericsson and Enel Grids.

Site: Renens, VD
Processes: Real-time grid state monitoring (state estimation), Fault location within seconds / FLISR automation, Predictive maintenance through AI/ML-based early fault detection, Integration of renewables (DER, PV, wind, EV), PMU hardware (SynchroSense, D-PMU, Rogowski coil sensors), Integration into SCADA/ADMS and third-party sensors, 5G/4G communication solutions (with Ericsson)
Materials: Distribution Grid Phasor Measurement Units, Rogowski Coil Sensors, State Estimation, Fault Location & FLISR, AI-Based Early Fault Detection, 5G/4G Communication
Certificates: ISO 27001, ISO 9001, IEEE C37.118
Founded: 2017
Employees: 20
Industries: Distribution network operators (DSO/DNO), Private medium-voltage network operators, Microgrids, Energy sector, Grid planning and asset management, Private medium-voltage network operators

01
Sensor & PMU hardware development
02
PMU measurement of voltage, current and phase angle
03
Transmission of measurement data (including 5G/4G) to the cloud
04
Data processing via SynchroGuard (state estimation, fault location, FLISR)
05
Integration into SCADA/ADMS and third-party sensors
06
Support & maintenance via local partner networks

Technology & Processes

D-PMU

Distribution Grid Phasor Measurement Units

Patented PMU platform for time-synchronized measurement of voltage, current and phase angle in distribution networks.

RCS

Rogowski Coil Sensors

Flexible current sensors for fast, non-invasive installation without power outage.

State Estimation

Provides full real-time visibility of voltages, power flows and phase angles with 10–20 % measurement coverage.

Fault Location & FLISR

Automatically localizes faults in under one second and supports grid automation.

AI/ML

AI-Based Early Fault Detection

Machine-learning algorithms detect early warning signs of equipment wear and enable predictive maintenance.

5G/4G

5G/4G Communication

Solution demonstrated with Ericsson for real-time transmission of synchrophasor-based data.

Locations

Renens (Lausanne)

Headquarters with development and management

Products & Components

**SynchroGuard Platform**PMU-based software · Distribution network operators

**SynchroSense D-PMU Measurement Data**PMU hardware · Medium-voltage grid

**Waveform Recording**Fault location · Grid service providers

Inside the production

Engineer working with SynchroGuard Grid Management

Phasor measurements at the primary energy point

Industries

Distribution network operators (DSO/DNO)Private medium-voltage network operatorsMicrogridsEnergy sectorGrid planning and asset managementPrivate medium-voltage network operatorsMicrogrids (e.g. EPFL campus)

Additional services

Real-time grid state monitoring (state estimation)Fault location within seconds / FLISR automationPredictive maintenance through AI/ML-based early fault detectionIntegration of renewables (DER, PV, wind, EV)PMU hardware (SynchroSense, D-PMU, Rogowski coil sensors)Integration into SCADA/ADMS and third-party sensors5G/4G communication solutions (with Ericsson)

Reference customers

Pluz Energía PerúQEERI (Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute, Doha)EPFL (campus microgrid, field deployment in Geneva MV grid)international grid operators in Europe, North America, Middle East, Asia

Quality & Certifications

Zaphiro is ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 27001 (information security, certificate number 271914) certified; the PMUs are IEEE C37.118-compliant and were ranked by NIST as among the top 2 worldwide.

Evidence	Renens (Lausanne)
ISO 9001
ISO 27001
IEEE C37.118

History

2017
Founded as an EPFL spin-off based on the doctoral theses of the three founders Paolo Romano, Lorenzo Zanni and Marco Pignati
2022
CHF 6.4 million Series A financing round (ABB Technology Ventures, CDP Venture Capital, Club degli Investitori, Excellis, UBS Growth Advisory); collaboration with QEERI for PMU installation in Doha
2023
Innosuisse supports Zaphiro with CHF 2.5 million under the Swiss Accelerator program; Silver Award at the Edison Awards (Critical Infrastructure category); joined the Open Power Grids Association; Frédéric Tréfois becomes new CEO
2024
Partnership with Ericsson for smart grid demonstrations over 5G; team expansion including Embedded Software Engineer and ML Scientist
2025
Agreement with Pluz Energía Perú for a monitoring pilot in Lima (8 PMUs, 131 substations); ISO 9001 certification; SynchroGuard receives the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label
2026
ISO 27001 certification (certificate number 271914) for information security management system; documented fault detections in Peru, Europe and South America