22.04: New design for transmission line towers in Denmark

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn these years, Europe puts a great effort into reducing the CO2 emission. Consequently, a more flexible and strong electricity transmission grid is needed, to be able to carry power from e.g. the offshore wind farms to consumers. Furthermore, the grid must be able to reach international markets.The tendency of the public opinion reacting against new power transmission lines is not only a Danish phenomenon, and various design competitions on overhead transmission line towers have been going on recently in Europe.The Danish TSO Energinet.dk has recently replaced a 174 km overhead transmission line in Jutland with a new overhead line, contributing to the Danish effort to reduce the CO2 emission. The line is the backbone of the grid with a transmission capacity that has been increased 3 times.Overhead transmission lines have a great impact on the landscape which is why much effort has now been put into creating a new design that minimizes the visual impact on the landscape in order to obtain public acceptance for the new line.The transmission line consists of new design towers, made as steel pole structures. The tower design is shorter and leaner than traditional lattice towers for better aesthetics, less environmental impact, and a shorter installation process due to the monopile foundation.The use of steel and alternative design has made it possible to obtain the aesthetic and functional goal: To minimise the visual impact on the surrounding landscape while also providing a resistant and durable solution.The total costs of the structures have been optimised by using steel monopiles for foundations. This has increased the speed of the rollout and decreased the impact on the surroundings and the costs of installation.The outstanding architectural design has been done by Bystrup Architects. Ramboll has done the detailed structural design for Energinet.dk.Energinet.dk is currently designing new overhead transmission lines for Denmark together with Bystrup Architects and Ramboll. During the design process, the design is being optimised with respect to aesthetics, the structural and the foundation requirements.