Robot line spacers for safer powerline construction
25 Nov 2024
Long spans and mountainous terrain called for a fresh approach to powerline construction.
Building high voltage powerlines can be a challenging business, so we’re always looking for new and better ways to work safely. At our Clarke Creek Wind Farm project we’ve built close to 150km of powerlines to support the wind farm, including over 26km of 33kV powerlines and over 22km of 275kV overhead powerlines.
Working in remote, mountainous terrain, we had to think differently about the safest and most efficient way to build and string long spans of powerline conductor. Enter the new CSR-TWIN robot line spacer from Fulcrum Air and PLP, which replaces conductor carts with a faster, safer, and more accurate installation method. This innovation is the only robotic line spacer installation and removal method in the world.
Fully remote controlled, the robot is sent up and down the lines to install spacers, keeping the individual powerline cables at a safe distance from each other to prevent contact. Work can be done remotely from the ground, as an alternative to truck mounted elevated work platforms or helicopter methods.
This is a world first innovation, and the first time the CSR-TWIN has successfully completed an installation of the PLP Twin Lok spacer.
