Pylons “transition”
TRANSITION, a new archetype, the embodiment of the energy transition
To support the development of the French high-voltage network necessary for the electrification of various uses, RTE launched a competition in 2023 for the design and supply of a new generation of pylons.
AREP, selected as part of an international consortium, was able to propose a new, identity-driven pylon typology; a design that contributes to a new collective imagination, with the ambition of highlighting the national challenge of the energy transition: TRANSITION.
Our consortium, structured around an initiative from AREP, successfully brought together the expertise of two leading manufacturers: Metalogalva (PT) and Petitjean (FR), as well as an expert engineer in overhead lines: EFLA (NO). The close collaboration with these partners over more than 12 months enabled us to find a balance between the ambitions of the designers and economic rationalization, aiming to secure this 5-year contract, with the supply of at least 1,000 pylons.
TRANSITION is an allegory. This range of pylons (18 models for 3 voltage levels, up to 50m in height) is conceived as markers of the renewal brought about by the energy transition needed to decarbonize our society. Furthermore, TRANSITION aims for a desirable design, blending elements of the familiar and the novel, with the goal of gaining the support of the greatest number of people.
The silhouette of this range marks the shift from the pylon archetypes of the 70s and 80s to a collective representation of a new era, a post-carbon era, more respectful of the environment. The past archetype fades in favor of a modern design, benefitting from a remarkable connection.
The TRANSITION pylons maintain a harmonious relationship with their environment: a connection to the ground, ensured by a lower part that is just necessary and transparent, symbolizing a calm anchoring to the territories; and a dialogue with the sky through an upper, slender, and light part. This dissociation effect is enhanced by a differentiated color treatment, reinforcing this visual signature that punctuates the French landscape.
Support for the acceptability of electricity transmission infrastructure, necessary for the national energy transition.
- A 10% reduction in material volumes compared to RTE's reference values.
- Reuse: proposal for valorizing the materials from decommissioned pylons based on a declassification principle.
-18% carbon emissions per pylon, compared to RTE's reference values.
Adaptability of the upper part (verticality = minimized width) to limit tree cutting and disruptions in ecosystems in wooded areas.