| Power plant products Aerial saw tree-trimming work begins
Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission Company (MAIT), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., is using a helicopter equipped with an aerial saw to trim trees and ensure proper clearance around more than 400 miles of high-voltage power lines in FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company’s Penelec service area.
Work using the aerial saw, which will trim the trees along transmission lines located in 16 counties in northern and central Pennsylvania, started in May, and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The helicopter and saw are owned and operated by Aerial Solutions and will work only as weather conditions permit. The maintenance of proper clearances around transmission lines and electrical equipment is to help prevent or minimise the impact of tree-related power outages, especially those associated with severe weather during the summer and winter storm seasons. Clearing incompatible vegetation under power lines also gives company personnel easier access to inspect and maintain lines and make repairs quicker if an outage occurs. John Hawkins, FirstEnergy president, Pennsylvania, said: “Keeping our high-voltage power lines clear of potential interference from
trees is an important part of maintaining system reliability. The aerial saw is a specialised tool that allows us to cover hundreds of transmission miles every year in a safe, efficient manner.”
Suspended on a boom beneath the helicopter and equipped with multiple 24-inch rotary blades, the aerial saw is typically used in areas that are environmentally sensitive or inaccessible to bucket trucks and other vehicles. This method of trimming typically covers a greater area in a day than a ground crew might complete in a week. The saw also eliminates the risk of injury to workers using bucket trucks
or climbing trees to cut limbs near high-voltage equipment.
The saw cleanly cuts tree limbs 8 to 10 inches in diameter, which fall straight to the ground propelled by air blasts from the helicopter rotors. Ground crews move limbs that have fallen onto roads, yards, fields or in streams. The ground crew will also flag and stop motorists along
ZX Lidars to provide key wind power insights
ZX Lidars and Globeleq South Africa Management Services, have deployed a ZX TM wind Lidar at the Klipheuwel Wind Farm in South Africa. This installation aims to provide critical insights into complex wind conditions affecting turbine performance and maintenance.
The wind Lidar will assess approaching wind flow patterns, helping to understand factors that contribute to component degradation. Additionally, the technology will be used for power curve verification and yaw misalignment checks, supporting enhanced operational efficiency and asset longevity.
Chris Slinger, senior scientist at ZX Lidars,
has been working closely with the local team at Globeleq. Commenting on the project Chris said: “Our technology delivers precise wind data in real-time, informing optimisations to yield improved performance, reduced component stress, and greater reliability. The data collected to date has been invaluable.”
Nico Lombard, asset manager at Globeleq added: “The ZX TM wind Lidar has been operational on this complex site for several months to date and we are delighted to have already identified some areas for improvement. The ZX TM helps analyse wind shear, turbulence intensity, and directional changes, providing a deeper understanding of
roads if the aerial saw is working nearby. The pilot also communicates with local airport personnel whenever the helicopter is operating within their air space.
The work is part of FirstEnergy’s $51 million vegetation management programme to trim trees along more than 4100 miles of power lines in the Penelec area in 2025.
wind behaviour at the site. This information is crucial for optimising turbine performance and minimising mechanical stress.”
Vegetation management framework
Engineering services company Avove has continued its long-standing association with SP Energy Networks (SPEN) with the award of a multi- million-pound vegetation management framework agreement to deliver vegetation management services across central and southern Scotland, North and mid–Wales, and northwest England. The six-year framework agreement covers the ENATS 43-8, ETR 132 programme works as well as outage management services and emergency fault response. The contract is worth over £60 m for the framework period.
This new agreement continues a partnership between Avove and SP Energy Networks that began in 2012, during which time Avove has maintained the SP Energy Networks’ infrastructure for over a decade. Avove’s executive chair, Mark Perkins, said: “Together, we are committed to delivering exceptional vegetation management standards while safeguarding network reliability and meeting the needs of local communities.” Avove’s robust service delivery system will ‘seamlessly incorporate cutting-edge practices
and methodologies to meet SP Energy Networks’ operational requirements.’ Aileen Rourke, SPD licence Director, said: “As one of our most crucial maintenance programmes, vegetation management is critical to ensuring our network remains resilient and we keep the lights on, even during extreme weather. This new investment with Avove will allow us to continue to actively manage vegetation effectively to reduce the impact of extreme weather on local communities and speed up reconnection times, making a real difference.”
www.modernpowersystems.com | June 2025 | 39
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