Eagle Pylon

Year

2014

Organisation

Bystrup

Description

Bystrup developed the Eagle Pylon, an innovative design for electricity pylons, which provides an alternative to classic lattice pylons.

 

Objectives:

  • Gain public acceptability and positively influence the image of pylons
  • Create a pylon that addresses visual amenity concerns, is easy to produce, transport, install and maintain
  • Create a family of pylons with an identical general appearance that build an unbroken structure in the landscape

 

Main information:

The Eagle Pylon is typically 35 metres tall – around 15 meters shorter than the equivalent 400 kV lattice tower – and is designed as a shaft with arms that reach out towards the sky. It represents an optimistic shape that sends a positive signal to its surroundings. The shaft and cross-arms are made of hot-dip galvanised steel, while the cross-arms are held in place by stainless steel wires.

However, the pylon was not only created as a visual alternative. It is an improvement to the lattice tower in all aspects: gaining public acceptability, creating a positive image, easing production and installation as well as reducing maintenance efforts. Consequently, the Eagle Pylon consists of as few elements as possible. It has a simple and efficient monopile foundation structure and can be constructed by one team of five people in one day.

The Eagle Pylon design consists of a family of pylons (suspension, flying angle, tension and dead-end tension) with identical general shape so that the line will appear as a single unbroken structure in the landscape.

Due to strong public opposition to lattice towers, the Eagle Pylon was chosen to replace old pylons in a Danish transmission line that connects Germany and Norway, when the single circuit line was replaced with a double circuit 400 kV line. The 180 km Eagle line was completed in 2014 and is the backbone of the Danish transmission system.

 

Additional information:

Bystrup is a Danish company of designers and engineers that specialises in the design of power pylons. They worked together with the Danish transmission system operator Energinet.dk to develop the Eagle Pylon aimed at overcoming strong opposition towards the replacement of the 400kV line between Kassø and Teele. After first proposing Sky Pylon, discussions with the public showed that they favoured the Eagle Pylon.

 

RGI gratefully acknowledges the EU LIFE funding support:

EU LIFE funding support Logo

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the LIFE Programme. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.