Not long ago, the Nordic country of Denmark became the first place in the world where the ubiquitous lattice transmission tower is no longer accepted for any power line construction. Danish Grid designed some tower for 400 kV Line. While relatively small and with a population of only some 5.6 million, what makes this development noteworthy on the international stage is that Denmark is a frontrunner in a trend that is already impacting a growing list of countries – namely public opposition to the building of new overhead lines.

400 kV Line

The origins of the new double circuit 400 kV Kassø-Tejle line that runs northward along the Jutland Peninsula lie in the longstanding goal of strengthening the interconnection between Germany and Denmark, and from there to Norway and Sweden. However, realizing this goal by means of another overhead line required overcoming strong objections by those who lived in this flat region of mostly small farms and historic towns.

Energinet, the Danish grid operator, first began planning the line back in March 2009 with an environmental impact assessment, as required by regional planning authorities. This document proposed that the initial route for the new line would be aligned as much as possible with an existing transmission line between the two points. The first public planning then took place in June that year and Energinet was asked to study different routes in terms of their expected effect on people, buildings as well as local wildlife and vegetation. Within 3 months, these alternatives were set out, each with a 400 meter wide planning zone.

A second pubic hearing for the project took place between March and May of 2010 during which the environmental impact assessment was published and the public was given a time frame to express their views as well as any proposals for adjustments. By the autumn of that year, the final environmental impact assessment and detailed route planning were both reviewed and within 6 months negotiations began in regard to compensating affected landowners. Construction of the line began around the start of 2013, with the project scheduled to be complete by November 2014.

Relative Articles:
IEC BS 900mm creepage distance porcelain pin insulator
Composite polymer pin insulators medium voltage
Porcelain grey glazed pin insulator