Aeolian vibration monitoring

We're trialling new technology that helps us detect and respond to a tricky problem affecting power lines - aeolian vibration. It's a natural phenomenon caused by wind, but over time it can weaken power lines and fittings, potentially leading to outages.

Aeolian vibration happens when steady, low-speed wind flows across power lines, causing them to vibrate. You won't see it with the naked eye, but over time this constant movement can damage equipment.

We're testing small sensors that attach directly to the lines and monitor for vibration in real time. These work alongside weather stations mounted on nearby poles to collect localised wind and weather data. It will help us better understand when and where the vibration is happening so we can take action early before there's a risk to the power supply.

This innovation could help us:

• Reduce the need for reactive maintenance
• Extend of life of our assets
• Prevent potential outages caused by equipment failure
• Improve reliability for our customers

It's a smarter way to manage our assets and ensure our network keeps performing at its best.

If this trial is successful, it could inform how we monitor and maintain power lines across our network into the future.