In January 2020 Powersystems were delighted to announce, that they had been awarded the electrical balance of plant works contract for the 48.5 MW Glen Kyllachy wind farm by the Scottish company RJ McLeod, who are one of Scotland’s largest privately owned civil engineering and building contractors. They had been appointed to construct the 48.5 MW Glen Kyllachy wind farm on behalf of their mutual client Innogy Renewables.
It’s been a challenging 16 months for the team at the 48.5 MW Glen Kyllachy wind farm in the Scottish Highlands. The site was suspended on the 24 March 2020 in line with Scottish guidance as lockdown began due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called for all, except “essential”, construction sites to close.
Clearly, this had an early impact upon the project, however, even at that stage, the Powersystems high voltage engineering team did not anticipate a delay to turbine erection or energisation of the grid connection.
Thanks to favourable winter conditions last year, the team made good progress on site, constructing up to 70% of the access tracks and preparing the platform necessary for the construction of the substation platform.
The site was re-opened in July 2020, the project team reassembled to start the installation, jointing and termination of HV and fibre optic cables as well as earthing installation work.
Concurrently the construction of the 132 kV substation progressed which involved the installation of structures, disconnectors, circuit breakers and VT’s.
The 33 kV switchgear, LVAC panel, 33 kV cables and control cables were delivered and installed in readiness for the delivery of protection panels in November 2020 to allow cold commissioning and final termination works.
The 48.5 MW Glen Kyllachy wind farm project is on track to be delivered and energised in the second half of 2021 which on completion Innogy Renewables has agreed a sale to Greencoat UK Wind.
This year Powersystems Site Manager, Stuart Gibson-Smith updates us on site conditions and the project so far. He said, ‘Unfortunately, due to the severe weather in Scotland at the beginning of the year the progress on site has been slower, but with thanks to the great effort from RJ McLeod’s team clearing the snow and ice away the project team have been able to access site, even in temperatures of -13 degrees the team have terminated the 132 kV switchboard and installed the 132 kV circuit breaker.’
The Powersystems commissioning team are expected on site next week to make a start and getting ready for energisation at the end of March.
Read more about the latest wind turbine update at the Glen Kyllachy Onshore Wind Farm.
Notes to Editors:
Contact Information:
- This article is written by Jules Daly, Marketing and Communications Manager at Powersystems UK.
- Email jules.daly@powersystemsuk.com Telephone 01454 318000
- Photography Copyright please credit all images used to powersystemsuk.co.uk
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As a high voltage specialist electrical engineering company with over 45 years (1977-2022) experience Powersystems have grown by reputation to become a trusted force in the design, installation and commissioning of electrical infrastructure across the UK.
Celebrating 25 years as the first Lloyds National Electricity Registration Scheme ‘s accredited Independent Connection Provider (ICP), Powersystems are capable of delivering contestable grid connections at voltages up to 132 kV.
Since 2000, Powersystems have connected over 6 Gigawatts of renewable energy generation to the UK electricity grid, along with decarbonisation technology which includes; wind energy projects, solar, anaerobic digestion, hydroelectric, electrical vehicle infrastructure, short term operating reserve STOR, combined heat and power (CHP), Grid stability projects like rotating stabilisers, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) as well as commercial industrial private wire networks.
Working with partners, delivering sustainable power solutions, proudly the Powersystems high voltage specialist team have connected 27% of all U.K. onshore wind farm
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