Overhead pylons still better value than underground claims report
Despite major progress in the industry, maintaining underground cables is proving to be too expensive, reports The Engineer.
Research from engineering consultancy Parsons Brinckerhoff - funded by National Grid and commissioned by the government - shows that while purchasing underground cables (UGC) is the second-cheapest way of transmitting power, lifetime costs are £10.2m-£24.1m per km.
Compared to overhead line prices (OHL) of £2.2m-£4.2m per km, it seems that those in engineering jobs will be continuing to install overhead pylons, at least for the near future.
Furthermore, putting the underground cables in tunnels made the price increase even further, cites Press Association.
This news may well disappoint campaigners who disapprove of the supposed eyesore that overhead pylons can bring; highlighting that new technologies are emerging which can bring underground costs down.
Mark Winfield, principal energy consultant for Parsons Brinckerhoff, explained that despite overhead pylon's inconvenience, it is still the best value.
He commented: "We still find, despite all the development in technology, that overhead line is the cheapest way of providing a transmission connection in relevant places.
"It's not always appropriate to have overhead line but, where it is appropriate, it is the cheapest way of doing it," he added.
Overall, National Grid expects to building around 350km of transmission lines in the next 10 years.