Updates & Events

Task: Understanding corrosion causes from stray current and the effects on structures
Task Description: This task is to understand the factors causing structural degradation, to quantify the severity and then determine what may be implemented to arrest the corrosion effects.
Update:

• HVDC has known corrosion sensitivities and anticipated growth in the renewable sector. This outlines where future gaps may reside and how to address these issues
• Stray and circulating current corrosion is difficult to identify and eliminate. This task identifies metrics to identify, methods to quantify and corrosion control techniques to mitigate this type of corrosion.
• Workshop to provide theory and practical experience in understanding corrosion and how to control the severity

Task: Inspection and assessment of lattice, foundations, poles and anchors
Task Description: The key to an efficient inspection and assessment program is to first screen a service territory for “at risk” structures and prioritize the balance of your system by severity. The last part is to quantify the damage so that it may be understood if the structure is serviceable, may be remediated or scheduled for replacement.
Update:

• Soil corrosivity maps and its supporting dataset allow models to forecast for various O&M operations. This task provides information to various utilities to support budgeting, maintenance, and replacement schedules.
• Develop guidelines for utilities to inspect, assess and mitigate corrosion on their assets.
• A pocket guide for field personnel to identify problems associated with weathering steel structures, how to quantify the severity of degradation and the best method to mitigate that damage

Task: Methods to arrest corrosion
Task Description: This task is to study methods, techniques, and materials to reduce the effects of corrosion and align those findings with the environment.
Update:

• The focus of this task is to study engineered backfills to utilize native soils and reduce imported backfill materials while minimizing the effects of corrosive soils.
• Conductive concrete serves to potentially augment a grounding system but the materials used to make it conductive also create a galvanic couple with the pole. The intent of this task is to quantify the corrosive effects of this new material.
• Funders wish to have coating systems that are surface tolerant and have an extended service life. This research is to address those attributes and allow members to select coating systems based upon the environment in their service territory
• Inspection, assessment, mitigation of wood degradation and an understanding of the inspection tools, design criteria and installation practices
• Online software to allow funders to choose the coating system best aligned with the environment in their service territory
• Online software to assist utilities in design, installation and maintenance of their CP systems

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Planned 2025 Deliverables

2024 Deliverables