The joint Northern Virginia/Washington PES Chapter, in cooperation with co-hosting chapters are pleased to host Eric Moal, Chief External Insulation Technical Expert at Shemar Group and Justin Jin, Chief Executive Officer of Shemar USA as guest speakers. They will be presenting on the topic of Composite Insulated Cross-Arm (CICA), a promising and cost-effective technology for solving transmission challenges.
Abstract
As electric grids face mounting pressure from increasing renewable integration, rising peak loads, and extreme weather events, upgrading transmission infrastructure efficiently and cost-effectively is more critical than ever. This presentation introduces the Composite Insulated Cross-Arm (CICA) solution—an innovative grid-enhancing technology designed to address key challenges in transmission line capacity, clearance, and resilience.
CICA leverages advanced material science and structural engineering to fundamentally improve both internal and ground clearance, double mechanical strength, and enhance dynamic line rating (DLR) potential. The technology allows utilities to unlock existing line capacity without replacing conductors or expanding right-of-way, significantly reducing construction downtime, permitting needs, and total capital expenditure.
Real-world applications from Canada, Chile, the UK, Spain, Brazil, and Belgium demonstrate CICA’s ability to deliver measurable benefits: capacity increases of up to 76%, ground clearance gains of up to 10 feet, and project cost reductions of up to 86% compared to traditional upgrades or rebuilds.
CICA is fully compliant with IEEE Standard 2833-2024 and relevant IEC standards, supporting both retrofit and greenfield projects. It stands as a “no-regret” solution for transmission modernization—offering reliability, resilience, and sustainability at scale.
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A Novel Composite Insulated Cross-Arm (CICA) Technology for Solving Transmission Challenges
Speaker(s): Eric Moal, Justin Jin
Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/483758