Low Profile 132kV Steel Poles

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
SSEN Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 January 2022

31 July 2023

ENA months

£1,650,000

Power

Scotland

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, SSEN Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission

Project Contact, Scottish and Southern Energy plc

Steel alternatives to the wood poles used for trident wood pole construction are required to provide an equivalent solution for the construction of non-resilient overhead lines (OHLs) at altitudes above 300m, where wood poles are impractical, and to provide an alternative supply chain to address the long lead times and creosote obsolescence risk associated with wood poles.Lessons learned during deployments of a composite pole OHL on its transmission network to connect the Dorenell wind farm, and the NeSTS trial OHL at Quoich, are available to inform this work. The most critical of these are that prototypes are utilised at full scale by SSEN and its contractors before the design is frozen, that no accessories requiring frequent inspection are designed to remain mounted to structures, and that the designs are readily manufacturable by multiple companies in response to fully detailed drawings.OHLs constructed with the new steel supports must meet the internal requirements defined for wood poles, and the functional requirements detailed in NeSTS Low Profile 132kV SC Functional Requirements. The project will be split into three work packages to –1. Develop prototype designs.2. Build prototypes and report on performance and subsequent design refinement.3. Conduct type testing for Technical Authority approval. The project objective is to create a low-profile design which replicates the visual consenting envelope, reliability levels, insulation level, and construction methods associated with wood poles, significantly reducing future construction costs. Application of the low-profile design within the existing design suite as a substitute for current steel structures could provide a significant reduction in construction costs to the year ending 2026. Lower construction costs will provide customers with lower cost connections and support energy system transition.

Steel alternatives to the wood poles used for trident wood pole construction are required to provide an equivalent solution for the construction of non-resilient overhead lines (OHLs) at altitudes above 300m, where wood poles are impractical, and to provide an alternative supply chain to address the long lead times and creosote obsolescence risk associated with wood poles.

26/10/22