The world’s first T-Pylons have been introduced in Somerset.
Based on a new design that aims to reduce the environmental impact of the electricity infrastructure, the pylons are around a third shorter than the lattice pylons currently used by the National Grid.
They also take up less land at the base as they use a T-shaped structure with a single supporting pole rather than standing on four legs.
The arms of the ‘T’ hold the wires in a shape that has been described as a ‘diamond earring’.
Construction began last week, with each of the 35-metre-high structures taking about five days to erect.
The initial stage of construction, which is taking place near East Huntspill, will involve 48 of the pylons.
There will eventually be 116 T-Pylons connecting most of a 57km route between Bridgwater and Portbury.
Part of the route will see cables going underground through the Mendip Hills, which are designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The new stretch of pylons is part of the £900m Hinkley Connection project, which will also see nearly 250 existing pylons removed.
The new pylons will bring power from the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, helping to bring low carbon electricity to around six million UK households and business premises.
The connection with the power plant is expected to be ready by 2024, with the project completed the following year.
Pylons are the first new design in the UK for a century
The new T-Pylons represent the first new design of pylon to have been built in the UK in nearly 100 years.
The design was chosen as part of an international competition set up by the Royal Institute of British Architects a decade ago.
The contest aimed to produce a new design of pylon that had a lower impact on the local environment, with the T-Pylon winning out over more than 250 entries.
Alongside the new pylons, the National Grid is deploying a range of other technologies to mitigate the impact of the power grid infrastructure on local environments.
These include variations on the design of existing lattice pylons and a number of underground and underwater cable systems.
Chris Bennett, the acting president of the National Grid Electricity Transmission, said that the organisation was always on the lookout for innovative ways to lower environmental impact as it works towards a net zero carbon target.
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