Behind the scenes at a tower dismantling

As part of its ongoing work on the Caithness-Moray transmission link, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is currently dismantling the 89 transmission towers between its substations at Dounreay and Spittal which are no longer in operation, following their replacement with new versions which are more robust and have a higher load capacity.

As well as being a replacement for the old towers which were approaching the end of their scheduled working lives, these new ones will help SSEN deliver its commitment to facilitate the increase in demand for connections to its Transmission network, and harvest the renewable generation to the north of the Beauly and Caithness area.

Starting at Spittal in May this year, SSEN teams have been working across the north of Scotland to take down the old towers, with the final tower expected to come down in Dounreay by early September.

SSEN’s Project Manager, Suzanne Mackay, explains the work that goes on behind the scenes with her team:

“Dismantling each tower is a complex job, and while the actual ‘toppling’ of the tower is over in a matter of seconds, hours of preparation are required before each one comes down. A full risk assessment is carried out before we even leave the site office, we check on the day’s weather as varying wind speeds can have an impact on whether or not the job can go ahead, and once we’re on site everyone is briefed again so that they know exactly what they are going to be doing.”

Taking down a steel tower which can weigh up to 10 tonnes requires rigorous safety procedures to be in place at all times, a key one of which is the exclusion zone around the towers to prevent any unauthorised access.

Suzanne talks through what happens once everyone is ready for the tower to come down:

“Taking a tower down can be summed up in three key stages; first of all, one of the team climbs to the top of the tower and affixes a rope to the peak, which is then attached to a tractor which is a safe distance away; we then we have a team with special saws who cut away at the tower’s feet, and finally after that, the tractor tugs on the rope and that is enough to set the tower on its way.”

To see one of the towers near Thurso coming down, click on the photo above.