| Blue Energy |
| Douglas West Wind Farm located at Junction 11, just off M74 |
Project Facts and Figures
| Project Value | £2.9 Million |
| Project Duration | 16 months |
| Services | Electrical balance of plant for a wind farm |
| Market Sector | Renewable Energy, Wind Farm |
| DNO | SPT |
| Number of Turbines | 13 |
| Wind Turbine Capacity | 3.6 MW |
| Total Installed Capacity | 46.8 MW |
| Connection Voltage | 33 kV |
| Energy for | 106,000 Households |
| Length of Onsite 33 kV Cabling | 90 km |
The 46.8 MW Douglas West Wind Farm
The Douglas West 46.8 MW Wind Farm is among the first in the UK to be constructed without relying on public subsidies. In January 2020, Powersystems announced they had been awarded the electrical works contract by RJ McLeod, a highly experienced civil engineering contractor based in Dingwall, Scotland. RJ McLeod was tasked with constructing the 46.8 MW Douglas West Wind Farm on behalf of Blue Energy and Greencoat, who acquired the project in December 2019.
Powersystems is well-suited for wind farm electrical balance of plant contracts due to its extensive experience in designing and installing 132 kV high-voltage electrical infrastructure. Since their first wind farm installation at Goonhilly Downs in 1992, Powersystems has been actively involved in projects ranging from single turbines to sites with over 80 turbines. Their engineers are skilled in the design, specification, installation, and commissioning of wind farm switchgear, transformers, cable infrastructure, earth systems, and SCADA cabling, ensuring complete installations. Powersystems has connected 30% of all onshore wind farm generation in the UK. The Douglas West project marks their thirty-third collaboration with RJ McLeod.
Located near Poniel in Lanarkshire, the Douglas West 46.8 MW Wind Farm was acquired from its original developer, 3REnergy, in April 2017. Construction began in the fourth quarter of 2019, featuring thirteen Vestas V136 – 3.6 MW turbines. Greencoat acquired the project in December 2019, with Blue Energy overseeing development through construction and into successful operation. Greencoat UK Wind plc, one of the UK’s largest independent wind farm owners, now owns the project. The Douglas West Wind Farm, constructed in 2021 using Vestas V-136 machines, is fully operational.
Additionally, the project provides £225,000 annually in community benefit contributions to support local groups and initiatives.
Douglas West 46.8 MW Wind Farm scope of work and major design considerations:
The 46.8 MW Douglas West Wind Farm comprises 13 Vestas turbines, each with a capacity of 3.6 MW, resulting in a total installed capacity of 46.8 MW and a maximum export capacity of 45 MW. The wind farm features an on-site 132 kV point of connection (POC) at the Douglas North SPT 132 kV compound.
Each wind turbine is equipped with a generator and full-scale converter, generating electricity at 0.65 kV. This is connected via a 4 MVA, 33/0.65 kV internal transformer to the wind farm’s 33 kV cable network. The network includes two feeders fed from the 33 kV switchboard at the wind farm substation.
A single 50/60 MVA 132/33 kV grid transformer (GT1) supplies the wind farm 33 kV switchboard. Earthing is provided by a 200 kVA auxiliary earthing transformer (ET1), connected to the 33 kV bushings of GT1 via 33 kV busbars. ET1 also provides the main LV supply to both the Douglas West and SPT Douglas North substations.
The 132 kV outdoor compound includes a transformer bay for GT1. Aluminium busbar connections link to open terminal equipment, with a 132 kV dead-tank circuit breaker (CB 110) and point-on-wave switching used to energise GT1. A 132 kV disconnector (DIS 113) provides isolation, and an earth switch (ES 111A and ES 111B) allows earthing of the 132 kV busbars. A 132 kV voltage transformer is connected for metering and protection voltage references.
Powersystems was responsible for the design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the following components for the 132 kV grid connection:
- 132 kV and 33 kV equipment for the compound, including circuit breakers, disconnectors, and earth switches
- 132/33 kV, 50/60 MVA grid transformer
- Three-panel 33 kV switchboard
- Grid transformer and circuit breaker protection panels, designed in-house
- 33 kV cabling, jointing, and terminations
- Low voltage control, signal and communications cabling, and auxiliary equipment
- LV auto-changeover panels, remote circuit breaker control panels, and dynamic system monitoring panels
- Complete installation testing and commissioning
Powersystems partnerships and contributions:
The 46.8 MW Douglas West Wind Farm project, is located at Junction 11 off the M74, was constructed in partnership with R.J. McLeod Civil Engineering for Blue Energy. Upon completion, Greencoat Renewables purchased the project from Blue Energy.
Powersystems is a Lloyds registered (NERS) approved Independent Connection Provider (ICP), collaborated closely with supply chain partners, including Hitachi, Schneider Electric, GE, Lucy Electric, and IST, for major equipment. The client engineer was Natural Power, with whom Powersystems has collaborated on numerous UK projects.
Douglas West 46.8 MW Wind Farm project timings:
Construction began in June 2020 with cable laying over 5 km alongside a private road, connecting the substation to turbine locations. Effective communication with the civil contractor was essential to maintain progress, especially in challenging winter conditions. Despite some delays due to weather, Powersystems ensured the substation was energised on schedule, aligning with target grid energisation dates.
The turbine cable terminations faced delays due to the erection schedule, but Powersystems remained flexible and responsive to ensure timely completion. Successful commissioning with Scottish Power Transmission was achieved through strong collaboration.
Clients requirements and Powersystems role:
The client required the project to be completed without delays, accidents, or incidents, and within budget. Despite weather challenges, Powersystems maintained excellent safety records and successfully managed the project within budget constraints. Powersystems engineers were involved in:
- Electrical system design
- Interface with Scottish Power Transmission
- Switchgear and transformer installation and commissioning
- Cable design, supply, and installation
- Grid Code Compliance approvals
- HV testing and SAP provision
- Resource programming and project management
Design Works
Powersystems carried out comprehensive design work, including:
- 132 kV primary and secondary systems, protection and control, interlocking, SCADA, and LV interfaces
- 33 kV substation and control building layouts
- Cable routing, sizing, and loss calculations
- Earthing design for structures and buried systems
- Battery sizing, demand calculations, and protection grading
- Turbine interface duct and earthing designs
- 132 and 33 kV protection and control panel design
Installation and Commissioning
Installation work faced challenges from COVID-19 and Brexit, but proactive planning and weekly management minimised disruptions. Commissioning required careful coordination with Scottish Power Transmission and Vestas, leading to effective collaboration and successful site commissioning.
Energisation Milestones
- Grid Transformer energised: May 2021
- Array 1 energised: July 2021
- Array 2 energised: August 2021
The results:
The completed Douglas West 46.8 MW Wind Farm become operational in October 2021.
Community Benefit
Since its launch in 2021, the Douglas West Wind Farm Community Fund has awarded over £172,000 to support community groups and charities in Coalburn, Douglas, and Glespin. Sponsored by Greencoat UK Wind, the fund complements the Ventient Galawhistle Wind Farm Community Fund, managed by Foundation Scotland since 2017. Together, they form the Coalburn, Douglas, and Glespin (CDG) Community Fund, simplifying the application process with a single submission and award panel.
Since 2021, the CDG Fund has granted over £276,000, including more than £172,000 from Douglas West. Notable projects include the Douglas Primary School Parent Council, which received £11,412 to create an outdoor learning area. This project promotes outdoor education, teaches valuable life skills, and strengthens community ties post-Covid.
Douglas West funding also provides recurring annual grants to the Coalburn Miners Welfare Charitable Society (CMWCS) and Douglas St Bride’s Community Group, each receiving £15,000 to run local community centres. These centres offer essential services and activities, addressing social isolation and supporting residents affected by rising living costs.
The CDG Fund exemplifies how combining community benefit funding from Douglas West and Galawhistle wind farms simplifies processes for volunteers and charity staff, enhancing life in the local communities of Coalburn, Douglas, and Glespin.
Environmental Benefit
- The The wind farm represents a significant step towards decarbonisation by producing 60% fewer CO2 emissions compared to coal or oil. As a low-carbon technology, it contributes to the UK’s renewable energy targets and net-zero goals, helping to mitigate climate change impacts. The wind farm contributes to low-carbon power generation, with local operations reducing emissions. No environmental incidents occurred on-site.
Economic Benefit
- The project provided employment opportunities for local subcontractors and Powersystems employees. It directly employed two local labourers, one of whom remains with the company. Local facilities and hotels benefited economically from the project.
In Conclusion:
Powersystems successfully delivered the project on schedule during the pandemic, maintaining high quality and safety standards. The client was pleased with the project’s execution and outcome.
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