275 KV Transmission Line from PMU New Prai to PMU la Llum
Penang, Malaysia
Merit Award, Power/Industrial
Presented by China Harbor Engineering Co. Ltd.
Owner: Tenaga Nasional Berhad
Main design company: AECOM Consulting Sdn Bhd.
Contractor: China Harbor Engineering Co. Ltd.
Structural Engineer: AECOM Consulting Sdn Bhd.
To connect a power plant to a substation on Penang Island, the contractors delivering this project had to build a transmission line that crossed the Penang Strait, confronting the project team with strong winds, tides and complex geologies.
The 8.5km line is supported by 25 monopole towers and six iconic 100m tall towers with a curved two-legged design inspired by the local betel plants.
The towers in the water sit on prefabricated pile caps with skirts to cope with the soft and variable subsoil conditions of the project site. The towers also feature a double-layer corrosion protection system designed to help them last 100 years in the challenging marine environment. The project team also conducted tests in the wind tunnel at Southwest Jiaotong University to ensure the stability of the towers in strong winds.
The team used drones to climb the lines, which improved accuracy and efficiency, and reduced the risks associated with working at height. They also used drones for daily security patrols to spot any risks.
In addition, the tower’s aesthetic lighting system integrates aeronautical warning and landscape enhancement functions, the project team says, “thus showing the ‘greening’ and ‘humanization’ of infrastructure while enhancing the city’s brand.”
