Trialling Long-Lasting Tower Paints

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 April 2016

01 July 2018

27 months

£279,899

Power

Scotland

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)

Project Contact, South Eastern Power Networks plc
Project Contact, SP Energy Networks
Project Contact, Eastern Power Networks plc

Stage 1 Engage with the coating suppliers to ensure that each coating is applied to the samples according to the recommended instructions. Where it may be not possible to follow these for UK application on pylons, alternatives will be agreed; Identify a trial circuit for the practical application; Specify laboratory tests and practical tests; Stage Carry out laboratory tests to estimate longevity and supplementary tests if necessary to meet ‘Electricity Company Approved’ status;Stage 3Engage approved contractor to carry out practical application of the coatings on a test circuit;Stage 4Produce a report evaluating the coatings against the applicable sections of the Electricity Company Approved specification; Rate the performance of the coatings by analysing test data and life-cycle cost relative to the control paint (Alkyd based complying with Electricity Company Approved requirements);Recommend the best coatings and any additional work necessary before wide-scale adoption. One or more coating systems are identified that allow the repainting interval to be increased from 12 years The repaint interval for one or more can be increased to 25 years or more The life-cycle cost for one or more is less than the present method

There are around 88,000 electricity towers, or pylons, in the UK. These towers are usually made of steel and require painting to ensure that the structures do not corrode. The towers need to be painted on a regular basis to ensure their suitability for the future. Network operators spend a significant amount of money painting and maintaining towers, usually on a twelve yearly basis with ‘Electricity Company Approved&rsquio; coatings. New coating systems could be adopted fairly quickly into Business as Usual (BaU) through tendered procurement specifications for painting companies if they meet the goals of ‘Electricity Company Approved’ specification, even if they do not meet the specifically referenced alkyd formulation. If they do not pass the tests then it is possible that they could still be adopted, but there may need to be risk assessments carried out or tweaks to the formulas, for instance if the slip resistance of the new coatings are less than desired, or if more rigorous surface preparation is required.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

17/12/18