Transgrid, the owner and operator of the high voltage electricity transmission network in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, has recently adopted the first new technology that enables the recycling of aged transmission lines. To recycle conductors in western Sydney, Transgrid has teamed with German manufacturing company ZECK to use their ZECK Al/Steel Separator (ZAS).
In the past, used conductors had to be transferred overseas to have the outer layer of aluminium removed, allowing the complete line to be recycled. The ZAS technology enables it to be completed on-site. Using this technology, Transgrid can reduce emissions associated with recycling conductors by up to 90%.
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The Newcastle field coordinator for Transgrid, Mitch Coppock, pitched the idea. Transgrid has put around 40 km of conductors through the machine so far, in just under two weeks into the trial, producing about a kilogramme of aluminium for every metre of conductor.
Mitch Coppock said, “Environmental impacts that this saves is huge. We can save 90% of emissions, cutting out those emissions of shipping overseas.”
“Something like that hasn’t been done in Australia before and being part of this initiative is exciting.”
“Everyone wins out of this solution. For Transgrid we can get a much higher return on the conductor as compared to current processes, the environment wins with reduced emissions and local businesses benefit too as they get readily available and processed aluminium.”
Source&Image: Transgrid – Newcastle Field Coordinator Mitch Coppock pitched the idea to Transgrid to use the system.
“As a business Transgrid is committed to embedding sustainability in all our activities and this project is just one of the ways we are working to identify and reduce our own environmental impact,” Executive General Manager for Delivery Craig Stallan said.
Transgrid may get a return of three times on scrap metal values of up to three dollars per kilogramme by cutting out the cost of offshore processing.
It is anticipated to generate an additional two to three million dollars in revenue through recycling over the following three to five years.
Zeck Al/Steel Separator (ZAS) at a glance
During the stringing operation, the ZECK Al/Steel Separator (ZAS) is positioned between the puller-tensioner and a reel winder/drum stand, or between two reel winders/drum stands on site at the scrap dealer.
As the conductor passes through the ZAS, the layers of aluminium are removed and cut into 30-70 mm-long pieces, then disposed of to the side into large bags or containers using a conveyor belt.
Onto the reel winder/drum stand is wound a steel core that has not been damaged. In this way, during the stringing process, pure materials can be separated! the most. The rope moves at 6.4 km/h.
This is how much ZAS reduces CO2 emissions when recycling scrap conductors
Source&Image: Zeck
A significant step towards a more sustainable future
Aged transmission lines are typically made of aluminium and reach the end of their useful life after several decades of service. These lines were scrapped and melted down for reuse in other products. However, this process is energy-intensive and could have been more efficient, resulting in the loss of some material due to impurities in the aluminium that made it unsuitable for reuse.
The Transgrid’s success in the recycling of unuseful transmission lines is an important milestone, which has been developing the process for several years. The company has demonstrated that its technology can provide a sustainable and efficient solution for recycling aged transmission lines, paving the way for greater adoption of this technology in the future.
The process of Transgrid represents an important development in the quest for more sustainable practices in the electricity transmission industry in Australia. It is encouraging to see companies like Transgrid embracing innovative technologies that can help to reduce their environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future for all.
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