Case Study
EDP
Utility: EDP Brasil
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Region of Deployment: Vitória, Brazil
EDP Brasil is one of Brazil’s largest electric utility providers, serving millions across a country of more than 212 million people.
The Challenge
Field assessments identified severely deteriorated concrete utility poles, showing visible cracking and structural degradation.
Concrete poles, while durable, can suffer from:
- Surface spalling
- Longitudinal cracking
- Reinforcement exposure
- Reduced structural capacity
In high-load environments, this degradation can compromise reliability and increase the risk of failure — especially in rapidly growing urban and coastal regions like Vitória.
Full pole replacement would require:
- Significant capital expenditure
- Heavy equipment mobilization
- Service disruption
- Extended project timelines
The utility required a solution that could restore structural integrity in place without large-scale replacement.
The Solution
TThe GridWrap team deployed BULLWRAP® in-field.
Using BULLWRAP®, the damaged concrete poles were:
- Cleaned and prepared
- Structurally reinforced with high-strength composite wrap
- Encapsulated to restore load-bearing capacity
Installation was completed on-site with no interruption to electrical service.
The Result
The reinforced poles achieved:
- Restored structural performance
- Increased resistance to further cracking
- Extended service life
- Avoidance of full pole replacement
- Saved expensive cost of pole replacement
This approach allowed EDP Brasil to upgrade existing infrastructure efficiently while maintaining service continuity.