The delivery of the longest turbine blades ever to be installed at a UK onshore wind farm is now underway, marking a major milestone in the development of Mill Rig Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire.
The blades, each measuring 80 metres in length, are being transported to the site as part of the construction of the 33.4MW wind farm, being developed by OnPath Energy. Once installed, they will form part of six state-of-the-art turbines which will generate enough renewable electricity to power more than 45,000 homes annually and displace around 27,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.
Deliveries have been carefully planned to take place through the night to minimise disruption ahead of commissioning and full energisation of the 33.4MW South Lanarkshire wind farm in the summer.
The new wind farm will feature six turbines with tip heights of 199.5 meters. With blades that sweep 50% more area than the largest turbines at Kype Muir Extension, the Mill Rig turbines, helped by their higher rated power – produce around 33% more energy. This means the new site will deliver a greater yield of renewable electricity while also driving an increase in community benefits.
Jules Rankin-Perez, head of construction at OnPath Energy added:
'The arrival of these blades is a defining moment for the Mill Rig project. Their scale is remarkable, but more importantly, they represent a step change in how efficiently we can generate renewable energy.
'By using the latest turbine technology, we are able to deliver more clean power from fewer turbines, which benefits both the environment and the local community.'
Transporting components of this size requires extensive planning and coordination, with specialist haulage teams managing the complex journey to site. The delivery process has been carefully designed in partnership with contractors and local authorities including principal contractors RJ McLeod, Nordex, McFadyen, Renfrewshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council to ensure minimal disruption to local communities.
Nordex has previously supplied turbines for projects including the Kype Muir Extension. The onshore Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specialises in the design, sale, installation, manufacture and servicing of wind turbines in the 4 to 7 MW market. To date, Nordex has installed wind turbines with a total capacity of around 65 GW in over 40 countries worldwide.
Jason Welch, regional vice-president and managing director of Nordex UK & Ireland comments: 'This underlines how quickly turbine technology is advancing and the role it plays in delivering more efficient, higher-yield renewable energy projects. We’re proud to be working with OnPath on this project which will generate significant clean electricity, strengthen energy security and create lasting benefits for local communities.'
OnPath has also worked in close collaboration with trusted partner Natural Power to provide Owner’s Engineer services for Mill Rig Wind Farm, providing end-to-end technical and construction management expertise. They were responsible for the co-ordination of design safety in their role as Principal Designer under the construction, design and management (CDM) regulations, monitoring progress of the works, and the co-ordination of contractors to maintain quality and compliance throughout the build.
Angie Smith, senior construction project manager of Natural Power adds: 'Natural Power is delighted to be supporting OnPath with the delivery of Mill Rig Wind Farm. The arrival of the first blade set to site is a major milestone for the project and is testament to the collaboration and cooperation of the whole project team. We will continue to monitor the progress of works and quality compliance throughout the construction phase and look forward to the completion of the turbine installation and commissioning works before handing over to operations.'
Once fully assembled, the six turbines will contribute significantly to Scotland’s renewable energy capacity. The project is expected to be operational by end of the summer.
'Mill Rig is not only about generating renewable energy, but also about delivering long-term value for the communities around it,' continues Jules.
'This project will provide significant investment into the local area, support jobs across the supply chain and contribute to the Scottish Government’s ambitions to deliver 20GW of onshore wind by 2030.'
The wider Mill Rig development is supporting around 300 jobs, with an estimated £91 million of contract value directed to firms within 60km of the site.
Mill Rig is the latest in a series of major renewable energy projects by OnPath Energy, and forms part of its growing operational portfolio of 12 wind farms across the UK.
The project also features a £5 million community benefit fund that will support local groups, organisations, and environmental projects across South Lanarkshire over the lifespan of the wind farm.
Mill Rig builds on OnPath Energy’s track record of delivering major renewable energy projects across the UK and reflects the company’s continued commitment to becoming the UK’s leading onshore renewables developer.
More information about Mill Rig Wind Farm can be found at: Mill Rig – Mill Rig Wind Farm
Source: OnPath Energy
