The transmission tower project is part of Statnett’s Research and Development programme ‘Lean Line’. Statnett will be among the first companies in the world to develop composite towers for 420kV high-voltage overhead lines. Traditionally, composite towers have been utilised for systems between 110 and 150 kV systems. As part of the project, DNV GL will provide assistance to Statnett in developing a new electrical design, adhering to specific Norwegian requirements and aspects.
“It is important that the projects we support, underpin our R&D programme’s main goal, which is to improve energy security by 20 percent, reduce costs by 20 percent and reduce construction time by 20 percent” said Oddgeir Kaspersen, Programme Manager Innovative Technology at Statnett. “To do so, you need technical expertise, as the devil can be in the detail. DNV GL’s experience in innovative tower design, specifically electrical design, enables us to create a safe and reliable concept for our composite high-voltage tower.”
Prajeev Rasiah, Executive Vice President, Northern Europe, Middle East and Africa, DNV GL – Energy, added that in order to realise the full potential of the power generation from renewable sources, optimisation of grid infrastructures is vital and that having worked in electrical design for high-voltage transmission towers for more than 50 years, DNV GL is looking forward to supporting Statnett with its knowledge and expertise in this field.
DNV GL’s grid experts will focus on the safety and reliability aspects of the transmission tower by developing insulation coordination, earthing/grounding, electrical stress testing and safety design. The new electrical design will be finalised by the end of 2019, and the validation tests are scheduled for 2020. The construction and operation of the pilot phase is scheduled for 2021.
The rise of wind and solar will drive major expansion of transmission and distribution systems according to DNV GL’s annual Energy Transition Outlook report. The report finds that the expansion of the world’s power lines will more than triple by 2050, both in length and capacity. This substantial infrastructure expansion is largely driven by the growth of renewable energy generation, often in remote locations, which needs to be connected to the local, regional, national and international power grid.
Renewable energy assets are often based in remote locations. As the sector grows and reliance on renewable energy increases, smarter design of power infrastructure is required to make expansion of the grid safer, faster and more cost-effective.
The high-voltage tower project has also been a part of the ‘Best Paths project’, a European consortium that aims to develop novel network technologies to increase the transmission network capacity and flexibility at pan-European level while maintaining system reliability.
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