Literature Review on Mitigation Measures for Bird Electrocutions Occurring Due to Streamers on Transmission Power Lines

Abstract

Bird streamer faults occur when the streamer, i.e., bird excretion, bridges the gap between two energized components or an energized and an earthed component of a tower structure. This results in a short circuit, which may be accompanied by an outage in the electricity supply. Due to the impact of these faults on electrical infrastructure and bird mortality, a detailed literature review to identify effective mitigation measures for sub-transmission lines (44–132 kV) and transmission lines (132–765 kV) was conducted. The findings show that there are several measures used internationally to reduce streamer-related faults, e.g., bird perch deterrents, shields, changing tower design configurations, changing insulator types and properties, and bird runways. Bird perch deterrents are typically most effectively used by many utilities; however, it is imperative that the perch deterrents are placed and installed correctly. Placement should be above potential problematic areas—to prevent the bridging of the gaps—at various points on different tower structures. Moreover, bird guards need to be monitored and maintained to ensure effectiveness over time. The involvement of a range of stakeholders when making environmental management decisions, such as researching and implementing the best mitigation measures, is also critical to ensure continued success.

Keywords

• bird
• electrocution
• mitigation effectiveness
• mortality
• power lines
• streamer faults