High‑Voltage Engineering & Grid Connection for a 60.8 MW Wind Farm
Project Snapshot
| Project Detail | Information |
| Client | Community Windpower Limited |
| Location | Aikengall II Wind Farm, Dunbar, Scotland |
| Sector | Renewable Energy — Onshore Wind |
| Project Value | £1.0m+ |
| Duration | 18 months |
| Scope | Electrical Balance of Plant (EBoP), HV design, installation, testing & commissioning |
| Capacity | 60.8 MW (19 Siemens Direct Drive turbines) |
| Connection Voltage | 132 kV |
| Powersystems Role | HV design lead, protection, SCADA, grid connection, commissioning |
| Powersystems Fact: | Powersystems Renewable Energy team have connected 24% of all UK land‑based wind generation. |
Aikengall II 60.8 MW Wind Farm Case Study
Download the full Aikengall II 60.8 MW Wind Farm Case Study. Designed for engineers, developers and technical stakeholders, this summary details how Powersystems delivered the high‑voltage EBoP, including a 132 kV grid connection, 90 MVA transformer, 132 kV primary plant, SCADA integration, and 33 kV distribution to 19 Siemens turbines. The case study also covers Grid Code compliance studies, UDFS preparation, protection design, and the deployment of one of the UK’s first point‑on‑wave controlled energisation systems—offering an overview of the engineering solutions behind one of Scotland’s most productive onshore wind projects.
Client & Site Background
Community Windpower Limited (CWL), based in Frodsham, Cheshire, is a leading UK renewable energy developer with more than 800 MW of onshore wind built, under construction or in development. They specialise in the end‑to‑end development, construction and long-term management of wind energy projects.
The Challenge
To support the new 60.8 MW Aikengall II Wind Farm and future Aikengall IIA extension, required Powersystems to deliver:
- A 140 MW connection to Scottish Power Transmission’s 132 kV network.
- A 33 kV cable layout minimising losses while enabling future expansion.
- A Grid Code compliant direct connection to National Grid.
- A substation design enabling future build-out without disrupting Aikengall II generation.
- A method to manage voltage dips during energisation of a 90 MVA transformer.
Our Engineering Solution
Powersystems delivered a full Electrical Balance of Plant and HV engineering solution including:
- A combined 132 kV substation design for Aikengall II and IIA, reducing cost and improving long-term operability.
- Complete 132 kV primary equipment installation and SCADA integration.
- A six‑panel 33 kV indoor switchboard and 33 kV network cabling to all 19 turbines.
- Grid Code studies, UDFS, modelling, and on-site compliance testing.
- Design and commissioning of one of the first point‑on‑wave controller systems in the UK for controlled transformer energisation.
Project Process
- HV design feasibility and expansion planning
- Detailed engineering and cable routing
- Procurement and integration of all HV equipment
- Civil and electrical installation works
- Protection and compliance modelling
- Site commissioning, SCADA integration and energisation
- Handover and documentation
Project Facts & Figures
- Turbines: 19
- Turbine Rating: 3.2 MW Siemens Direct Drive
- Installed Capacity: 60.8 MW
- Connection Voltage: 132 kV
- Households Powered: ~40,000
- Planning Consent: March 2013
- Operational Date: November 2017
Technical Specifications
132 kV Equipment: ABB transformer, Alstom/GE circuit breaker, Lucy Switchgear disconnectors, MH Electrical VTs, Connectors & Switchgear busbars, ABB surge arresters
33 kV System: IST auxiliary transformer, Cressall NER, Premier/Hellenic cables, Jointing Tech terminations, Schneider switchgear
Control & Monitoring: Laplace SCADA, Enspec point‑on‑wave controller, Batt multicore control cables
Partnerships
- Community Windpower
- Scottish Power Transmission
- National Grid
- Siemens, ABB, GE Grid Solutions, Schneider Electric, Laplace Control Solutions
Key Risks & Mitigations
- Voltage dips during transformer energisation → mitigated using point‑on‑wave switching
- Future expansion requiring no interruption → substation designed for staged build‑out
- Challenging terrain for cable routes → optimised routing using existing and future track alignments
- Grid Code compliance complexity → full suite of UDFS, modelling and on‑site tests delivered
Watch a short film on the Aikengall II Wind Farm
Environmental Considerations
- Powers approximately 40,000 homes
- Offsets ~68,700 tonnes of CO₂ annually
- Supports Scotland’s renewable energy and carbon reduction targets
Economic & Social Value
- £304,000 annual community benefit fund
- £7.6 million total over 25‑year operational life
- High utilisation factor due to excellent wind conditions
- Demonstrates onshore wind as the lowest-cost new-build generation technology in the UK
Future Prospects
Aikengall II Community Wind Farm became operational in November 2017. With future expansion capacity built into the 132 kV infrastructure, Aikengall II A can connect with minimal operational disruption. Powersystems continues to support CWL on further renewable energy developments.
Related Projects
- Crystal Rig IV — 49.1 MW EBoP
- Limekiln — 108 MW EBoP
- Blackcraig Wind Farm
- Sanquhar Wind Farm
Delivering the UK’s renewable energy future through specialist high voltage engineering?
Talk to Powersystems about HV design, 132/33 kV substations, cabling, SCADA and grid‑connection delivery for utility‑scale renewables.