We are joining the Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) research consortium, leveraging advanced research in the field of overhead transmission and substation maintenance. We expect to gain learnings that will help us monitor for corrosion on metal structures, better manage composite structures, and reduce potential hazards through new repair methods.
What is the project about?
We’re joining the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a non-profit organisation which conducts research, development, and demonstration projects for the benefit of the public in the United States and internationally. EPRI works for public interest energy and environmental research, focusing on electricity generation, delivery, and use in collaboration with the electricity sector. Joining EPRI is a great opportunity for further collaboration and research internationally and will help us share best practices and learn about new tools and methods we could deploy on our network. Ultimately, this new relationship will help us support EPRI’s goals to make electric power safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible.
How we’re doing it
By joining the institute, we’ll contribute to several projects being delivered in ways that can easily be applied to improve system performance in our network. Many results can be applied immediately, while other research may create benefits over a longer time frame. This approach is expected to offer UK Power Networks and the GB consumer both short and long-term value.
What makes it innovative
The projects are facilitated by EPRI’s overhead transmission line and substations programmes, which work at the cutting edge of global research. The projects we’ll contribute are funded by more than 40 companies from across the world. The total contribution from all members for these two research programmes for the next three years is in excess of £46m.
What we’re learning
Under the two programmes, there are several sub-projects. The expected learnings are listed below.
003: Structure and Sub-Grade Corrosion Management – Providing a new tool—the corrosion probe—to identify severe corrosion on foundations, anchors, and steel poles.
005: Composite Structure Management – Reduced construction and maintenance costs through new materials.
012: Porcelain/Glass Insulator Integrity Assessment – Provide information on insulator technologies, enabling lower cost and/or improved technical solutions.
102: Circuit Breaker Life Management – Improved reliability
108: Gas Insulated Substations and Lines – Improved environmental performance through reduced SF6 emissions
113: Bushing Monitoring & Diagnostics – Help in assessing and managing risks through early insights from new bushing diagnostics tools
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