Electricity Today T&D Magazine

One of the important trends in design of new overhead lines over the past 20 years has been development of structures and designs that are less obtrusive and more pleasing visually. Much the same process has also been going on at substations. For example, even 25 years ago, efforts had already been in place as far afield as Finland and Australia to build substations designed to facilitate acceptance by affected communities – either through aesthetic appearance, reduced scale or other factors. Indeed, more and more substations these days – especially those sited in urban centers or along well-traveled roads – are being designed to minimize adverse environmental and aesthetic impact.
During the mid-1990s, TransGrid – the network operator in New South Wales (NSW), Australia – wanted to build a substation at the confluence of existing 330 kV and 132 kV lines. Located some 60 km west of Sydney, this pristine...