Applied Integrated Vegetation Management

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 January 2016

01 April 2023

87 months

£269,000

Power

Scotland

Network Innovation Allowance

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

Project Contact, Southern Electric Power Distribution plc (SEPD)

- Determine current knowledge about IVM strategies in the USA and elsewhere by reviewing existing literature and other information sources- Design IVM strategies based on current knowledge and test them in the field- Implement IVM strategies on trial site(s)- Quantify any financial savings of IVM compared to conventional techniques- Assess the relative value of biodiversity of the habitat arising from the IVM compared to conventional techniques The success of the project will be defined by the following outcomes; - Identification of the extent to which IVM can control trees returning and how effective it is as a tool to maintain regulatory standards around power lines. - Determine if IVM is a cost effective method in the UK- Production and dissemination of learning around IVM

The primary problem addressed is the one of trees in the vicinity of overhead electricity lines and also ensuring that regulatory standards are met. For example, on the SEPD 11kV distribution network area between 2003 and 2012, trees have been the cause of 890 million customer interruptions and 1. 5 million customer hours lost. In order to reduce this problem and comply with ETR 132, SEPD are selecting the most vulnerable circuits and seeking landowner permissions for resilience clearances i.e. felling or reducing the number of trees within falling distance of the conductors. Once the trees have been felled, the cleared area normally needs to be regularly maintained in order to avoid the area being recolonised by problem tree species. This is usually carried out with machine mulchers to clear all vegetation, but this is costly and is not desirable from either an ecological or landscape point of view. It is also often very difficult to obtain the landowners’ permission to do this. One of the potential solutions to this problem is Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM). This is the practice of promoting desirable, stable, low-growing plant communities that will resist the invasion by tall-growing through the use of appropriate, environmentally sound, and cost effective control methods. Problem 1 - Although the use of Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) is widely used in other countries the species, standards and methods are not necessarily applicable to the UK. The project will investigate the most appropriate species, relevant standards and methods that would be applicable to the UK environment. Problem 2 - IVM may not be suited to all site types, so the project will look to establish the most effective methods depending on site characteristics. This project seeks to investigate potential improvements of efficiency, safety and environmental impact through the use of IVM. As already stated above, this is the practice of promoting desirable, stable, low-growing plant communities that will resist the invasion by tall-growing through the use of appropriate, environmentally sound, and cost effective control methods. These methods can include a combination of chemical, biological, cultural, mechanical and/or manual treatments and will possibly remove the requirement of the DNO to revisit site and carry out costly and disruptive mulching.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

26/04/18