Linemen have constructed large lattice towers worldwide for decades. While they have served their purpose, they have also received growing opposition in Europe, according to BYSTRUP, a design and engineering firm.
Recently, however, new tower designs are gaining traction in Europe. These designs are focused on optimizing aesthetics, the environment, technical feasibility and cost. Some of these designs have moved beyond the research and development phase, and they are now being installed and energized in Denmark and the United Kingdom.
Take a look at some of these new tower designs, which may one day find themselves connected to the American power grid.
Amy Fischbach is the Field Editor for T&D World magazine and manages the Electric Utility Operations section. She is the host of the Line Life Podcast, which celebrates the grit, courage and inspirational teamwork of the line trade. She also works on the annual Lineworker Supplement and the Vegetation Management Supplement as well as the Lineman Life and Lineman's Rodeo News enewsletters. Amy also covers events such as the Trees & Utilities conference and the International Lineman's Rodeo. She is the past president of the ASBPE Educational Foundation and ASBPE and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Kansas State University. She can be reached at [email protected].