T-Pylons: A Bold Idea That Just Didn’t Connect
Updated: January 2025
It seems T-Pylons were a bold idea that just didn't connect:
The National Grid’s ambitious Hinkley Connection Project, once hailed as a transformative leap in modernising the UK's electricity infrastructure, introduced the innovative T-pylon design. Unveiled in 2015, these sleek structures, resembling golf tees were developed by Danish firm Bystrup. Featuring a single upright steel pole with horizontal arms and distinctive diamond-shaped earrings suspended beneath, they stand about a third shorter than their transmission tower predecessors and supposedly occupy less ground space. As the first major redesign of Britain's pylons in nearly a century, the project aimed to transmit 400,000 volts of high voltage electricity efficiently while minimising the visual impact on the landscape.
The first and only installation of these pylons occurred along a line connecting to the Hinkley Point C nuclear station in Somerset, with initial structures erected in 2021 at a development cost of around £17 million. However, residents expressed concerns about unsettling whistling wind noises, describing the sounds as "horrid" and "really spooky". Additionally, issues such as localised flooding around the bases of these structures, due to their large foundations, further complicated the project.
Beyond operational concerns, the T-pylons proved to be significantly more expensive compared to traditional lattice structures. Their slender design necessitated larger foundations and substantially more steel, adding another £48 million to the £17 million base cost, culminating in a staggering £65 million premium. Furthermore, they lacked the capacity to accommodate new transmission connections. The energy watchdog Ofgem criticised the National Grid for failing to justify the expenses associated with the T-pylon technology in the Hinkley Point connection project. These issues ultimately led to the exclusion of T-pylons from the Government's net zero pylon expansion plans.
In light of these challenges, whilst publicly stating that T-Pylons remain 'an option', National Grid has opted to mothball the T-pylon design due to significant challenges, setbacks, and public opposition. This decision highlights the complexities of modernising electricity transmission infrastructure, where balancing aesthetics, project operational efficiency, cost considerations, and public acceptance remains a delicate challenge.
March 2022:
T-Pylons have made their debut in the UK – a world first for this new style of pylon – and they’re set to bring low carbon energy to over 6 million homes and businesses.
So what are they? Standing at 35m (115ft) tall, they’re about two-thirds the height of existing high-voltage pylons, and with a smaller ground footprint. It has a single pole and T-shaped arms which hold the DNO cables via diamond shaped suspended insulators. The T-Pylons are the first new design in the UK since 1927.
The innovative new galvanised steel pylon structure can be built on-site and is quick to assemble with less than 10 parts to it. Installed in sections of up to twelve T-pylons at a time, the length of cable between each T-Pylon can be up to 360m and connected in a process called ‘stringing’. Each section takes around two weeks to string.
The aim of T-Pylons is to reduce the visual impact on the environment, and the new design could slowly become the norm, although there’s a long way to go with circa 22,000 pylons across England and Wales. Right now, the project is initially expected to transition 249 old style pylons.
Designed by Danish company Bystrup, it won a Government supported Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) competition back in 2011. It’s also been nominated for the IET Innovation Award 2014, won the Gold Prize at CIGRE in Seoul 2017, and won at the Steel Awards (SSDA) in 2017.
Where can you see them? National Grid has announced that the first 36 newly installed T-Pylons are linked to the Hinkley Connection Project. Woolavington and Loxton saw the first stringing, with work due to commence in April between Bridgwater and Woolavington where an additional 12 T-Pylons are to be installed. The 48 T-Pylons will be operational October 2022.
The entire Hinkley Connection route is expected to have a total of 116 T-Pylons, stretching 57km (35 miles) from Hinkley Point C to Seabank power station. Construction work has begun on the remaining 68 T-Pylons on the northern stretch between Sandford and Portbury in Somerset, with an expected completion date (including stringing), by 2023.
For more information on the aerial overhead lines (that conveniently happen to work with T-Pylons!) as well as our wider range of transmission, distribution and power networks cables, get in touch with the team.
