SPIE uses a drone for high-voltage power lines - Flora and fauna protected around pylons

Drone

SPIE has successfully suspended a cable between two high-voltage pylons using a drone. This technology was first used in the Netherlands.

Fact sheet

  • Services: T&D
  • Subsidiary: SPIE Nederland
  • Year: 2018
  • Tags: High-voltage line, CSR
  • Status: Completed

Using a drone to suspend cables between high-voltage pylons offers major advantages. This mode of operation protects the ground, as well as plants and wildlife nearby and between the pylons. In addition, pulling cables over difficult terrain is made easier when a drone takes over much of the work.

The test was carried out in Geertruidenberg (in the South of the Netherlands) under the watchful eyes of TenneT, drone provider AceCore, and the Environment and Transport Inspection (the regulatory agency of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management). The drone took the cable over 150 metres and hung it at the pylon. This operation is usually repeated for each high voltage cable, which means 10 to 12 drone flights between two high voltage pylons.