ESA: New navsat sensor improves water monitoring

The start-up company Star2Earth, reared in the ESA Business Incubation Centre in the Netherlands, will improve electricity production from a hydroelectric plant on Lake Laja in Chile by using navigation satellite signals to measure water levels and wave heights.

The hydrologic models represent Lake Laja's water cycle and are used to predict the amount of water in the lake during the year, drawing on information such as snow coverage and the actual water level. The models are used by energy company Endesa to plan electricity production.  

The prototype sensor for Oceanpal was developed by Starlab, Star2Earth's parent company in Barcelona, based on ESA technology that uses navigation satellite signals reflected from a water surface.  

Mounted on a platform just above the water, the sensor measures reflected navsat signals and combines them with the direct signals to calculate real-time wave heights and water levels. 

Oceanpal is already operational in Barcelona’s harbour, on Scheveningen pier in the Netherlands and at the LaBaells water reservoir in the Pyrenees. 
 
 

Oceanpal on Lake Laja

Oceanpal is an economical solution for monitoring water reservoirs. Existing systems work out the amount of water in a reservoir by measuring the water pressure at a specific depth. They are complicated to calibrate and need frequent maintenance by divers. 

When the Catalan Water Authority was looking for a more efficient alternative for their water reservoir at LaBaells, Oceanpal provided the perfect solution.