Thanks to the advancement of technology, the transmission of electrical power can now be done overhead or underground using various types of transmission cables. Not only does it save space, but it also increases the safety of utilising these wires as they aren’t just shielded from the elements; they are also protected from unwanted tampering, sabotage or even just an unlucky person accidentally coming across an exposed wire, hurting themselves and damaging the cable at the same time.
These types of electrical power transmissions have their advantages, disadvantages, and applications where it is often used. So without further ado, let’s dive into the reasons you might or might not utilise these cables for your business.
While the use of underground cables for transmission has been used for centuries, their usage has remained relatively low in the different parts of the world. The basic idea behind this type of cable is to transmit power in two ways: overhead or underground. The use of underground transmission is expected to continue growing in popularity. So, to give you an idea, let’s share about underground cables and the advantages they grant.
What are underground transmission cables?
Underground electric transmission simply refers to the electric power transmission that is done using the underground method and acts as an alternative to overhead power transmission. Compared to overhead methods, these cables are not exposed to the open area and are not affected by any weather conditions. However, the cost of installing these wires is correspondingly high, coming along with a time-consuming setup process consuming.
Underground Cables: Advantages
Still, there is a reason why underground cables are widely utilised, especially in Singapore.
1. Safety and reliability
In contrast to overhead cables, research has shown that underground cables are far safer. This is because underground cables are not directly exposed to dangers that power cables are exposed to, such as the environment type and weather conditions. While these wires do gain extra protection from the elements, they are also kept away from sabotage or even unintended disruption.
Accidents can, unfortunately, bring down overhead cables, becoming costly and time-consuming to get up and running again. This problem is, however, mitigated in the case of underground cables.
2. Maintenance Cost
While it takes a lot of effort and time to set up, maintenance of underground cables is generally cheaper compared to overhead ones. Because of its protection from the elements and exposure to heat fluctuations throughout the day, scheduled maintenance can be spread out further. The mitigation of accidental damage is also largely key in reducing costs.
3. Space Saving
Another reason why we see the government utilise underground cables comes from the fact that underground cable saves ground space. In a nation like Singapore, where land use is highly optimised, the extra space granted from keeping our cables out of sight can allow businesses and landowners to maximise the use of their land.
Underground Cables: Disadvantages
An underground cable setup may be a tempting idea, but what’s stopping people from doing this? As with all business decisions, there comes an opportunity cost, and we explore the downsides of this option.
1. Costly Setup
Compared to overhead cables, underground cable transmissions are much more expensive to set up, and the cost may vary depending on the construction type as well as the voltage rating. Excavation takes a much longer time to set up, requiring specific equipment, expertise, and care plans to be drawn out to not disrupt other existing cables or pipes placed underground.
2. Tricky Locations
Underground cable locations are not always noticeable and can be tricky to find. This may lead to unwary diggers impairing other cables, or worst, getting into accidents. Compared to overhead cables, which can be seen and planned around carefully, underground cables require careful documentation and administrative upkeep to maintain for present and future use.
3. Subject to ground movements damage
Underground cables are more subjected to damage by various ground movements. This is because the operation of these cables is difficult due to the high reactive power of the cables, which generates high charging currents. While these might not be as much of an issue in Singapore, where we do not have to worry about earthquakes and similar issues, it is still of note as cracks in infrastructure have been known to appear over long periods of time.
Next, the second issue that experts see is the type of cables used in the process. Although different types of cables can be used to transmit electricity, what’s essential in choosing which type to use depends on the type of installation method. For instance, plastic cables are best for installing only a small portion of transmission lines underground.
Conclusion
First, the process of how cables are laid underground can be complicated for some, given the three main methods used for setting up underground cables – directly burying cables, placing cables in underground tunnels, and placing cables in concrete-reinforced places – choosing which method to use changes from the place to place. The setup method depends on the geographical features of the area where the grounding is done.
Still, it can be evidently seen that underground electric cables remain a highly reliable method, considering that most of our electric cable solutions are done that way. If this is something you’re exploring for your business, we recommend that you look through the requirements of your business but also safety requirements put in place by the government for their intended use purposes.
You can refer to this guide on the factors to look out for in proper cable selection. Alternatively, for additional queries and questions, you can reach out to us at Cable Source, a Singapore cable company that has years of experience providing underground cables, marine armoured cables, and other wiring solutions locally.
