Wooden Pole Wraps and Coatings
Page last updated 09/29/2025
Overview
Wood pole wraps and coatings refers to technologies that enhance the durability and/or increase the lifespan of existing wooden transmission and distribution system support structures. As the average age of power system infrastructure continues to rise, these techniques are essential for maintaining system integrity. Additionally, these technologies are being increasingly utilized in disaster-prone areas to improve system resilience. Techniques vary but generally involve the use of engineered materials, such as carbon fiber and advanced polymers, to encase the existing structure, thereby enhancing its strength and resistance to environmental factors.
Benefits
Reinforcing wooden structures can help to alleviate the following grid challenges:
- Aging Infrastructure: This technology directly addresses the challenges associated with aging infrastructure by enhancing the durability and extending the lifespan of wooden support structures, which is crucial for maintaining reliability.
- Outage mitigation: While reinforced structures do not directly improve the fault detection or restoration processes can contribute to quicker restoration efforts during outages by providing reliable support, the technology.
Technology Readiness Level (TRL): 9
Wooden structure reinforcement technologies are generally new, however commercial offerings do exist with many pilot demonstrations. The availability of commercial products makes this technology a TRL 9.
Adoption Readiness Level (ARL)
Value Proposition
Delivered Cost
Medium Risk
Initial investment is required, but long-term savings and improved performance justify the cost. As technology matures and scales, costs are expected to decrease. Investments are made on an as-needed basis while considering system improvements with cost and potential future cost savings.
Functionality Performance
Low Risk
Strengthening techniques offer high functionality with proven effectiveness in enhancing grid performance. These methods have been successfully deployed in various grid environments.
Ease of Use/Complexity
Low Risk
Wrapping and coating techniques are quickly understood and can be easily integrated into existing grid infrastructure with minimal disruption to operations.
Market Acceptance
Demand Maturity/Market Openness
Low Risk
Market demand is driven by grid reliability requirements, aging infrastructure, and the need for improved resistance to extreme weather events.
Market Size
Medium Risk
The global market for pole wraps and coatings is driven by increasing demand for reliable and resilient infrastructure. The market size of electric towers and poles was valued at 4.8 billion in 2023.
Downstream Value Chain
Low Risk
Wooden pole wraps and coatings enable the extension of the service life of existing structures and repair damaged parts of poles after inclement weather conditions.
Resource Maturity
Capital Flow
Low Risk
This technology is already in a deployment state, and no additional capital is needed to bring various techniques to the market.
Manufacturing and Supply Chain
Low Risk
Several vendors exist in this space. Raw materials to manufacture wraps and coatings are mostly well-known, frequently used materials.
Workforce
Low Risk
Some vendor-specific training may be required, but existing workforce has the necessary skills to install pole wraps or coatings. In some cases a contractor may do the installation.
License to Operate
Regulatory Environment
Low Risk
Regulatory frameworks do not impede utility’s ability to strengthen wood poles.
Policy Environment
Low Risk
Environmental Policies and initiatives do not impede utility’s ability to strengthen wood poles.
Permitting and Siting
Low Risk
Wrapping or coating projects typically do not require any permitting or siting, as they involve upgrading existing structures with no changes to the grid layout.
Case Studies & Implementation
Dominion Energy – Gridwrap
In 2023 and 2024 Dominion Energy deployed Gridwrap’s Bullwrap technology to repair several damaged transmission structures.