2012 Activity and sustainable development report - RTE

AN OFFER FOR TODAY AND TOMORROWA NEED FOR INNOVATIONFocus- 20%reduction in SF6discharge targetedby RTE between 2008and 2014.230,000 m 2The energy mapping of 50 office siteshas been performed. The operation willfinish in spring 2013, with 170 sitesmapped.THE HEAD OFFICE IN NANCY DIVIDES ITSENERGY CONSUMPTION BY THREE / €12 millionhas been invested on improved insulation, tripleglazing, geothermal systems, etc. for the headquartersof RTE East, which now consumes only 131 kWh/m 2 /year. During 2012, RTE also took delivery of 9,000 m 2of new office space built to the BBC standard atGennevilliers and 6,500 m 2 of offices certified BBC andHQE Construction/Operation near Lyon. 14,000 m²of office space has been rented in the Cœur Défensebuilding, with HQE Operation certification.PHÉNIX TRAPS SF6 LEAKS /In 2012, RTE tried out a newtechnique for sealing SF6 leaksin metal-clad substations. Phénixtraps the gas in an airtight spacecontaining compressed nitrogen,with no effect on operating andmaintaining the substation. Infraredcameras have been successfullytested to detect leaks and RTE hasbrought into service three fi eld trialsof vacuum circuit breakers, i.e.without SF6.A LOCAL PLANT TO AVOID TRUCK JOURNEYSAND CARBON EMISSIONS / A 65-kilometre 225 kVunderground link is under construction betweenBoutre and Trans, in the South of France. It will be theworld’s longest alternating current line at this levelof power. A plant has been set up on-site to producethe 120 km of tubes that will shield the electriccables. Only two trucks were required to transportthe components for the manufacturing equipmentplus all the raw materials needed. The operation hasremoved the need for 150 truck journeys averaging650 km and has therefore saved 80 tonnes of CO 2.SILENCE… EXPERIMENTS IN PROGRESS / RTE continuesto perform research on reducing the noise made by conductorson overhead lines. Approval of a noise-reduction duct is in the processof being finalised. The results of experiments with sand-treated surfacesfor conductors to reduce the crown effect, which generates crackling,are now being evaluated. The use of water-repellent coatings to reducenoise in wet weather is under experiment.RTE | IN LINE WITH THE FUTURE43