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Powersystems win electrical works contract for the 62.4 MW Kennoxhead Wind Farm

February 19, 2021

Powersystems has announced it has been awarded the Electrical Balance of Plant contract by Welsh company Jones Bros; who are a highly experienced civil engineering company based in Ruthin, Denbigshire – they have been appointed to construct the 13 No Nordex Turbines collectively rated at 62.4 MW Kennoxhead Wind Farm on behalf of their mutual client Brookfield Renewable UK Limited.

The new subsidy-free onshore wind farm development at Kennoxhead in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, is located on land south of the A70, near the village of Glespin on the Douglas Estate which is steeped in history; growing from a rural estate village in the 19th century to a thriving mining community in the 20th century. Following the closure of its Glentaggart coal mine in 2011, the Estate has embraced the move away from fossil fuels and is actively working with Brookfield Renewable on the consented Kennoxhead Wind Farm cluster.

The Kennoxhead Wind Farm development is central to Brookfield’s development pipeline, has planning consents in place, as well as contracted grid connections.

Experience in the design and installation of high voltage electrical infrastructure has placed Powersystems in a position ideally suited to carryout wind farm electrical works and balance of plant contracts.

Powersystems have connected 27% of all U.K. land base wind farm generation.

Since Powersystems first wind farm installation at Goonhilly Downs in 1992 they have been actively involved with wind farm projects ranging from single turbines to 60 plus turbine sites.

The Kennoxhead Wind Farm project is progressing and construction has now started on site. At this early stage some works will be more visible than others. The site is currently being prepared to ensure that it can accommodate the construction works that will take place over the coming months.

Initial works focus on site establishment, installing the main access tracks and opening up the borrow pits.  In addition, the first of the crane hardstands at a wind turbine location has now been constructed.

The focus for the next few months will be to continue the access track construction, prepare the substation platform and undertake the construction of many of the crane hardstands.

Powersystems will be mobilising in the first week of March, to commence the installation of almost 80,000 metres of HV cable to link the main substation to the windfarm which is located 13km away.

In the Spring, Jones Bros will look to begin construction of the wind turbine foundations.

SP Energy Networks are continuing with their design and procurement process associated with the grid connection for the site and it is anticipated that they will commence works on site in the Summer.

An anticipated timeline of activity is as follows:-

  • October – December 2020 – Site preparation – including tree felling
  • October 2020 – March 2021 – Internal access track construction
  • January – April 2021 – Public road upgrades on minor Glentaggart Road
  • December 2020 – July 2021 – Turbine and infrastructure foundations
  • August – September 2021 – Turbine delivery
  • September – December 2021 – Wind turbine erection
  • First half of 2022 – Commissioning and completion of Kennoxhead Wind Farm Phase 1

Powersystems engineers are experienced in the design, specification, installation and commissioning of wind farm switchgear, transformers, cable infrastructure, earth systems and SCADA cabling, enabling the complete installation to be carried out.

In addition to the on-site electrical balance of plant works Powersystems can provide grid connections to wind farm sites, and have done so in some extremely remote and challenging locations – such as the construction on Glen Kyllachy Wind Farm, situated South of Inverness commencing in October 2019.

Other activities taking place offsite include the confirmation of the contract for the supply and installation of the wind turbines with Nordex.  It is intended that these will be transported to site in between August and December 2021.

Wind Power

Wind is one of the world’s fastest growing renewable energy sources and has become a major component in the energy mix. Wind power is clean, cost effective and does the same job as fossil fuels but generates less waste.

Scotland is one of Europe’s strongest wind resources creating significant potential for the deployment of wind power.

This trend is expected to continue as:

  • The costs of wind energy continue to fall
  • Threats to energy security persist across the globe
  • The need to tackle climate change becomes increasingly urgent

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Powersystems are powering the transition to a carbon free future

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

At the core of the operation is a commitment to the highest values of health and safety, welfare, quality and the environment. Powersystems Integrated management systems are ISO accredited and their approach under their health and safety ‘Priority No.1’ brand is to aim for the best industry practice in all.

Powersystems UK Ltd. is an Employee-Owned Business and as such has a keen interest in the well-being of all its employees. They encourage and empower you to be imaginative, share great ideas and be involved in the success of the business.

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