Underground Cabling
ENTRY DATE: 28.04.2015 | LAST UPDATE: 28.04.2015
CATEGORIES:
- Disaster Prevention
- Protection of infrastructure
TECHNOLOGIES MATURITY:
Applicable immediately
Technology Owners:
Construction firms, government, development agency
Needs Address
- Maintenance of basic livelihood and social functions (hospitals, schools and other critical social and economic institutions to respond to disasters, etc.
- Reduces dangerous exposure to live transmission cables, which increase fatalities and risk in disaster scenarios
Adaptation effects
Increased coping capacity
Overview and Features
Safeguarding of transmissions cables from destruction and damage in the event of a storm by moving them underground through ducts or channels
Cost
- Construction costs, human resources, maintenance costs
- e.g. Singapore spent USD 2 billion to construct 35 kilometres of underground tunnels for transmission cables [UNESCAP, 2013]
Energy source
Fuel etc. for construction of underground tunnels
Ease of maintenance
Protection and maintenance of cables and infrastructure for their protection is necessary
Technology performance
Benefits, including societal impacts, gained from having cables installed underground can outweigh the costs to transfer from overhead to underground
Considerations
- Comprehensive planning and design of the construction process is critical
- Land acquisition must be considered
- Temporary access blocking during construction can disrupt livelihoods and incomes
Co-benefit, suitability for developing countries
Decreases maintenance needs and input for transmission cables
Information Resources
ADB, 2012. Climate Risk and Adaptation in the Electric Power Sector. Available at: http://adb.org/sites/default/files/pub/2012/climate-risks-adaptation-power-sector.pdf [27 December 2014]
ADB, n.d. Odisha Power Sector Assistance Project. Available at: http://adb.org/projects/details?page=details&proj_id=47379-001 [20 March 2015]
Nepal Electricity Authority. 2012. Annual Report. Available at: http://www.nea.org.np/images/supportive_docs/AnnualReport12.pdf [20 March 2015]
Sheets, B. 2013. Is it Time to Relook at Underground Electric Utilities.Again? Energy Central. Available at: http://www.energycentral.com/gridtandd/gridoperations/articles/2601/ [27 December 2014]
UNESCAP, 2013. Building Resilience to Natural Disasters and Major Economic Crises. Available at: http://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/ThemeStudy2013-full2.pdf [19 March 2015]