Energy Firm Unveils Slimline Pylons Amid Backlash Over Welsh Grid Plans
Green Gen Cymru introduces a 22m high, single-pole design intended to reduce visual impact on the landscape.
An energy firm facing opposition to its proposed power line infrastructure has revealed a new, slimmer pylon design it states is intended to be more considerate of the Welsh landscape. Green Gen Cymru announced the 22-meter high, single-pole structure, which is significantly shorter than traditional steel pylons, aiming to minimize visual disruption.
This new design has been commissioned for two of the company's three planned routes for electricity grid upgrades across mid and west Wales. The firm's previous proposals had encountered protests, legal challenges, and a commitment from the Plaid Cymru-led Welsh government to prohibit the use of large-scale steel pylons.
Green Gen Cymru stated that the new monopole design draws inspiration from structures commonly used in Europe, noting that these single-pole designs are engineered to carry substantial electricity network capacity within a compact profile. The new monopoles stand at approximately 22 meters, a reduction from the previously proposed 27-meter steel pylons. For comparison, wooden pole alternatives are around 12 meters high but have a lower electricity carrying capacity.
The company argues that using monopoles over wooden poles would necessitate fewer overhead lines, thereby reducing the impact on farmland and scenery. Green Gen Cymru also contends that exclusively burying cables underground is prohibitively expensive and disruptive. The firm plans to deploy these monopoles on its Towy Usk and Towy Teifi projects, as part of a broader