As a considerate constructor, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has an ongoing commitment to minimize disruption, noise and pollution while ensuring the highest levels of safety for both its customers and colleagues as it works to keep the power flowing to the communities it serves.
As a result, SSEN’s tree-cutting team in the distribution operator’s South East region will swap their fuel-powered saws, hedge cutters and leaf blowers for rechargeable, electrical equipment over the next eight weeks as part of a trial that aims to further help SSEN reduce noise and air pollution; improving working conditions for its staff and reducing potential disturbance to those living in areas where trees and vegetation are being managed.
Serving more than 750,000 homes and businesses across the South East in areas including Hampshire, Portsmouth, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight, SSEN carries out regular tree-cutting - in accordance with nesting times and other environmental factors - to ensure branches and vegetation remain a safe distance away from power lines, thereby reducing the risk of contact with overhead power lines which can result in power cuts.
Throughout 2020, SSEN’s tree-cutting team explored the various fully-electric options available, before settling on a set of equipment that covered their needs and their commitment to decarbonization. The findings from the trial will be available later in the spring and will seek to address SSEN’s desire to improve the way it works for customers, colleagues and the environment.
SSEN’s Performance and Delivery Manager, Jamie Jones, who was instrumental in setting up the trial, said, “Much of our tree-cutting activity takes place in rural areas, which are already quiet by nature; by trialing this carefully selected kit in these areas, we will have a comprehensive overview on how it benefits our customers in terms of noise reduction and with the removal of fuel-driven equipment, a reduction in potential air pollution.
“In the event of a power cut, where a tree or branch may have damaged an overhead power line, we can be called out to work during the night, so having a significantly quieter kit to carry out these works will result in minimal disruption to those living nearby. There are also safety benefits to our own colleagues through the reduction in noise and vibration of the equipment, and the elimination of working closely with fuel-powered tools.”
He added. “This trial of fast-charging tree-cutting equipment, that will be used on a daily basis, will give SSEN a valuable insight into another cleaner, greener way of working that we hope to be able to utilize across our business in central southern England and the north of Scotland.”
As safety is a key priority for SSEN, all of the tree-cutting team taking part in the trial have been fully trained in the operation and maintenance of this waterproof, battery-charged equipment to ensure both their safety and that of customers living and working in the vicinity of their use.
This trial is part of a broader effort by SSEN to decarbonize its equipment and support the net-zero transition. SSEN is a signatory of the EV100 commitment and as part of SSE Group will shift 3,500 vehicles to electric by 2030, and is investing in its infrastructure to support and meet the Government’s net-zero targets; working to understand the ambitions of the communities it serves, to enable this transition.
According to the Congressional Research Service, an average of 7.1 million acres have been burned by wildfires each year since 2000. After more than 10 million acres were burned by wildfires in 2020, multiple industries are working to reduce their devastating effects. Electrical transmission lines are periodically responsible for wildfires, making the review of outdated utility vegetation management strategies an important step toward preventing tall-growing vegetation from making contact with essential components.
While some industry professionals have proposed burying power lines, that effort would take billions of dollars and years to complete. Instead of overhauling current infrastructure to enhance electrical transmission safety, utility companies have access to a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution: selective herbicides.
Preventive strategies
In the past, utility vegetation management programs relied on mechanized mowing to control various forms of tall-growing vegetation. While mowing can be effective in providing short-term relief, it also strengthens the development of incompatible plant species and devastates biodiverse habitat. Selective herbicide treatments can be applied to targeted vegetation as part of an Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) program, which reduces mowing requirements as well as long-term maintenance costs.
Using selective herbicide treatments to establish fuel breaks throughout utility rights-of-way can help stifle the cause and spread of wildfires. Starting in the wire zone, which is represented by all land below wires and conductors as well as 10 feet beyond their outer edge, vegetation managers can work to control trees and tall-growing vegetation to promote the development of low-growing plant communities that consist of grasses, herbs and small shrubs. This greatly reduces the risk of power line interference while establishing natural fuel breaks that can slow the spread of wildfires.
Scott Flynn, PhD, zonal biology leader and field scientist with Corteva Agriscience, details the environmental and economic impact of this approach.
“The proper use of herbicides is proven to prevent the development of incompatible vegetation without disturbing desirable plant communities,” Flynn says. “Mowing not only damages native plants, but also stimulates regrowth and supports the spread of viable seeds. This doesn’t just increase re-treatment requirements and maintenance costs, it can create more work and greater fire hazards over time.”
Using selective herbicides can enhance mowing results and effectively control incompatible plant species throughout the wire zone by interfering with their essential plant processes. This supports the development of desirable low-growing plant communities that create a natural barrier against the future development of targeted vegetation. But keeping the wire zone clear of trees and other tall-growing plants doesn’t just prevent vegetation from growing or falling into power lines, it also reduces the amount of flammable debris that can fuel wildfires.
Slowing the spread
In addition to downed power lines, cigarettes, automotive accidents, lightning and acts of arson can ignite fires that are capable of spreading quickly. Heat, low humidity and high winds can also create volatile conditions for blazes to spread. And while vegetation managers are unable to control the weather, they do have the ability to eliminate a primary fuel source for wildfires: dry vegetation.
Similar to fuel break establishment within the wire zone, vegetation managers can use IVM strategies to convert the border zone, which consists of all land within 10 feet of a right-of-way (ROW), to include low-growing grasses and forbs. As fuel breaks established in this area can inhibit flames from spreading, firefighters can suppress the flames more safely and effectively.
“Since many perennial grasses or forbs do not significantly contribute to a fire’s intensity, their presence provides a landscape of fire-resistant plant species that help to disrupt the spread of wildfires,” Flynn explains.
For border zones with increased tree densities, an IVM-based strategy can be used to eliminate the tallest and most flammable plant species. Similar approaches also can be used to provide ample spacing between less-flammable tree species, creating a natural ventilation system for the heat of wildfires to escape. This also provides low-growing vegetation a chance to thrive, which helps to enhance the strength of fuel breaks throughout ROW corridors.
Taking extreme measures
Supporting the development of native plant communities throughout each right-of-way is an industry best practice and should be a goal for all utility vegetation management programs. There may even be areas in which total vegetation control is required to keep wildfires from spreading to nearby buildings, structures or surrounding communities. Whereas fuel break establishment can slow the spread of wildfires, firebreaks work to stop flames in their tracks.
Generally free of flammable vegetation, canyons and bodies of water are examples of areas where firebreaks occur naturally. Comparatively, a variety of plant species can run rampant throughout utility-managed lands like substations or right-of-way corridors when they aren’t controlled effectively. However, by using a tank-mix partner like Cleantraxx® herbicide, utility vegetation managers can achieve total vegetation control on these sites to successfully eliminate fuel for wildfires and effectively prevent their spread.
Improving safety and budget management
Using selective herbicide applications as part of an IVM-based strategy can support low-growing plant communities that enhance the development of wildlife habitat, reduce the impact of wildfires and prevent the future development of incompatible plant species. As incompatible vegetation is replaced by low-growing plant communities, reduced treatment requirements lead to lower maintenance costs over time, which in turn enhances budget flexibility for utility vegetation management programs.
It only takes a single ember to ignite and destroy thousands of acres. But the effective control of incompatible plant species that cause wildfires and fuel their spread can allow utility companies to safeguard the communities in which they serve. To learn more about the economic and environmental benefits IVM strategies can provide to utility vegetation management teams, contact your territory manager from Corteva Agriscience or visit VegetationMgmt.com.
™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Cleantraxx® is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.
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SSEN Trials Electric Tree-Cutting Kit to Reduce Noise and Pollution - Transmission & Distribution World
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