T-pylon concept becomes reality

Lightweight pylon could be used to carry power from the new nuclear Hinkley Point power station

A lightweight pylon could be deployed to transmit power from the proposed new nuclear Hinkley Point power station in Somerset, it has been announced.

The T-Pylon design, which won the Pylon Design Competition in 2011, has a single pole and T shaped cross arms which hold the conductors and wires in a diamond ‘earring’ shape.

The modern pylon could help to address some of the concerns raised by the public about the connection’s impact on the landscape.

Residents feared that the 400,000 volt pylons needed to carry the wires would be much higher than those on the existing 132,000 volt line currently running along the route. However, at 35 metres high, the T-pylon is 10 to 15 metres shorter than the traditional lattice towers.

Energy and climate change secretary Edward Davey said: “To see T-pylon becoming a reality just 20 months after winning the competition, is a fantastic achievement. One of the key objectives of the competition was to see if innovations in design and technology could improve an 85 year old structure, and one that has divided popular opinion since its inauguration in the 1920s.”

Over the last two years engineers at National Grid and architects at Bystrup have been working together to turn the T-pylon concept into reality. They are now satisfied it will be ready in time.