EDF power solutions UK has started the main installation of 20 turbines at its 102MW Stranoch wind farm located near New Luce in Dumfries and Galloway.
Following the successful delivery of 189 key turbine parts to site from the Port of Cairnryan, the wind farm’s installation phase is planned to last until the end of the summer.
The installations, being carried out by Vestas, are the latest milestone in the construction of Stranoch wind farm by EDF power solutions UK one of the country’s leading renewable energy developers. As the Principal Contractor, Scottish family run I&H Brown, is managing and monitoring the safety of the works on site.
While efforts will be made to keep disruption and noise to a minimum for residents in the vicinity of the wind farm, activity may happen on exception out with normal working hours as per planning conditions, such as on Sundays. Where possible EDF power solutions will notify residents through its email service.
Yusuf Patel, Chief Technical Officer at EDF power solutions UK, commented: “We are now entering a crucial phase in the Stranoch wind farm project construction as we start the installation of the 20 turbines and their components across the site.
“Our teams will work closely with Vestas in the coming months to transform the site and progress towards generating renewable energy.
“We are immensely grateful to the local residents for their patience as we reach this exciting milestone together.”
Over the last two years £40,000 has been awarded to local community groups through a sponsorship fund. The annual fund supports small-scale grants for projects that make a positive difference to local people, particularly those living in and around the communities closest to the Stranoch development.
Those awarded grants earlier this year include a summer pony camp in Stranraer to allow more young people to attend; a local Wigtownshire group for people with disabilities and additional support needs to promote its services and expand its reach; as well as grants to several groups to cover costs of events for demographics such as the elderly and those experiencing social isolation.
Once the wind farm is operational this will be superseded by a community benefit fund, worth around £510,000 per annum. Discussions are currently ongoing with communities as to how this will be administered.
Local residents and businesses can sign up to an email mailing list and text messaging service for updates by sending their details to stranochwindfarm@edf-re.uk.
Notes to Editors
A proportion of the wind farm’s electricity generation will be bought by major retailer Tesco, with the clean energy due to power the equivalent of more than 80 average sized supermarkets for a year. Another proportion will be bought by BAE Systems and provide clean energy to power around 40 per cent of its current UK energy demand, supporting major technology programmes including the production of Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy in Glasgow. South East Water will take a further portion of the site’s electricity generation. Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) have been facilitated by EDF Business & Wholesale.
