When considering the critical vulnerabilities in electrical grids, it’s concerning how often we see limited, if any, meaningful substation protection for wildlife contact. Whether due to poor fit, hasty installation, or mismatched products, wildlife-related outages remain a persistent problem despite advances in technology and reliability standards. However, these outages can be prevented.
Very often, wildlife threats can be exacerbated by half-measures or one-size-fits-all solutions that don’t account for a substation’s unique geometries. But with careful site evaluation and a solid understanding of energized versus grounded components, risk points can be readily identified.
Many substations are difficult to take offline, and wildlife mitigation measures will take a backseat to essential tasks like equipment replacement and major maintenance, possibly leading to more outages. Additionally, efficiency is often prioritized over thoroughness, and with a lack of detailed reporting, personnel can fail to understand the consequences of a less-than-adequate wildlife mitigation strategy.
Many substations are difficult to take offline due to load demands and limited redundancy, and crews tend to prioritize essential tasks during planned outages. By implementing proactive wildlife prevention measures, crews can focus on these essential tasks.
Standardized wildlife mitigation products don’t accommodate the unique geometries of substation structures, so without a solution tailored to your substation, field personnel are often left to adapt generic products to complex layouts.
Many utilities struggle to consistently report the detailed root causes of wildlife-induced outages, leading to unfocused mitigation strategies that miss critical vulnerabilities.
A single mitigation strategy for diverse environments can lead to gaps in protection. Instead, focus on a more performance-based approach that more accurately reflects the physical realities of wildlife interaction.
Despite pressure to consistently make things as efficient as possible, skipping steps when installing protection products or building a wildlife mitigation strategy can lead to poor performance and create more work in the long run.
Improper execution can sink even the best plan. Installation errors are the leading cause of performance issues, and quality control combined with hands-on training is essential to closing that gap.
Wildlife mitigation is not just checking a box. It ensures long-term reliability and protects your assets. The industry doesn’t lack the will to execute effectively, but often the right tools, data, and methodologies.
Greenjacket’s experts can assist with your high-voltage asset protection to ensure your grid’s long-term reliability. For over two decades, we have retrofitted substations with purpose-built wildlife protection solutions for site-specific risks and designs.
Contact us for more information on a consultation so we can protect your critical infrastructure and improve system resilience.