Emergency Retrieval System (ERS) for Power Lines

Emergency Retrieval System (ERS) for Power Lines

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Economy

In news

• An indigenous technology, Emergency Retrieval System (ERS), for quick retrieval of power transmission in the event of failure of transmission line towers was recently developed. .
• Developed by: Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC), constituent laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Key takeaways 

• At present, the ERS systems are imported and the cost is relatively high.
• This technological development will enable the manufacturing in India for the first time, which will be an import substitute. 
• Also, it will cost about 40% of imported systems.
• ERS is a lightweight modular system that is used as temporary support structure to restore power immediately after the collapse of transmission line towers during natural calamities such as cyclone/earthquake, or manmade disruptions.
• It is made of structurally highly stable box sections. 
• It is lightweight, modular and reusable.
• It can also be assembled quickly at the disaster site for restoration of power in 2-3 days.