Wear of Power Lines Elements under Arctic Conditions

The overhead power lines (OPL) use is widely developed around the world to transmit electricity over distances exceeding hundreds of meters. There are some regulatory documents describing rules of laying, maintenance and control of power transmission lines state. However, they do not counted climatic conditions at latitudes greater than 65° and extremely unfavorable soil features of the arctic regions. The article presents an analysis of the Kola energy system operating experience, as an example of the most developed region with a very extensive electrical network and over 6,500 kilometers length. The Arctic industry needs of power system reliability and failsafe of its work. This is becoming an increasingly important goal for investment attractiveness of the region and country’s strategic energy security. Therefore, the Murmansk region power system analysis, as well as the state of its overhead transmission lines elements with a voltage class from 150 kV to 330 kV, is presented. The characteristic problems of power transmission lines during the period between repairs are summarized and photographs of transmission towers defects are shown. A general technical condition description of the surveyed power lines in the Murmansk region is presented, which confirms the need for additional control over the power system elements operating in the Arctic. The necessity of adjusting the regulatory documentation for such high-voltage networks for thunderstorm activity in the region, wind load, electromagnetic protection of the network, as well as the revision of standards for grounding substations and power transmission lines was confirmed.