New pylon wins £5,000 prize14 October 2011
A T-shaped design has won a competition to find the next generation of electricity pylons - although there's no commitment to build them.
Danish engineering firm Bystrup came first in the contest organised by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and energy firm National Grid.
One of the judges, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, praised the "classical", "smaller" and "less intrusive" pylon.
Friends of the Earth welcomes moves to modernise the electricity system. But believes the Government is not doing enough to stop soaring energy bills and runaway climate change.
Coming up short
We need to radically overhaul the way we generate and use electricity over the next 20 years to tackle climate change - so updating the design of the pylons which carry it couldn't be more timely.
Craig Bennett, Campaign's Director, Friends of the Earth
Government adviser the Committee on Climate Change says we need to cut power sector emissions by 90% by 2030.
But the Government is supporting a dash for gas - exposing the UK to rising fossil fuels prices and failing on commitments to be the greenest government ever.
Friends of the Earth is calling for:
- Greater energy efficiency.
- Development of green power like wind, wave and geothermal.
- A smarter grid connecting green power to places where energy is used.
What do you think?
The winning pylon design would stand 18 metres shorter than the current triangle pylon - or 4 double-decker buses less in height.
View the winning entry and five runners-up to see if you agree with the judges.
