European Composite Power Pylon

ended

The European electricity grid is undergoing major expansions to accommodate the switch to renewable sources and more decentralized energy production. Yet, the lattice towers are facing increasing public opposition due to their unsightly visual appearance, and the alternative method of underground cables is too costly for long stretches. The TSOs are increasingly looking for less intrusive, smaller, easier to erect, visually appealing and cost-effective transmission systems that could raise general public, environmental and land owners associations acceptance, and therefore enabling TSOs to expand the electricity grid with minimal resistance. The ECP consortium has developed a turnkey transmission system, more compact and with minimal visual impact. It relies on the use of composite materials on pylon cross-arms, enabling the integration of insulators and consequently the reduction of the size of pylons. This funding programme enables Bystrup/DK, the main instigator of the project, to join forces with 4 global companies, Valmont/DK, Reinhausen Power Composites/GER, Nexans/FR and Dervaux/FR to secure the final steps to commercialisation by demonstrating the Composite Pylon at operational conditions. This will be the first step to ensure market and key stakeholders acceptance, including TSOs, general public, environmental and land owners associations, policy- and opinion-makers. The ECP project will increase the partners’ competitiveness and innovation capacity with direct impact on economic turnover and job creation. Also, the Composite Pylon leads to higher standards of environmental and societal sustainability of the European and global OHTL sector.