Currently UK electricity network owners have adopted BSEN50341 and BSEN50423 standards using either the general approach to line design (BS8100) or the deterministic empirical approach using fixed wind/ice parameters. The latter approach has been used for the design of NGs exiting OHL network. CENELEC standards allow alternative line designs based on probabilistic methods if evidence can be given of wind/ice loads. The COST727 project will provide the modelling tools necessary to develop a wind/ice map of the UK which will relate weather data to conductor ice loads. This will allow return periods of wind/ice loads to be evaluated on a geographical basis. Future UK line design can follow these new wind/ice loads which are expected to be less onerous than those predicted by BS8100, produced in 1986 mainly for the design of communication towers.

Objectives

The Main objective of the project is to provide a probabilistic UK wind/ice map to be used in the design of Overhead Lines (OHL) using BSEN 50341/50423.