Delivering 49 turbine connections, 353 km of HV cabling, and two 106 MW export circuits to SPEN
Project Snapshot
| Client | Brockwell Energy, in partnership with Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK & Natural Power |
| Project Value | £12.1 million |
| Project Duration | Dec 2023 – Oct 2025 |
| Market Sector | Renewable Energy – Onshore Wind |
| Services Delivered | Full Electrical Balance of Plant (EBoP) |
| Powersystems Fact | Energised 49 wind turbines, delivering 212 MW via two 33 kV export circuits (106 MW each). |
Client & Site Background
North Kyle Wind Farm is a major renewable energy development built on a restored former coal mining site in East Ayrshire.
Featuring 49 Vestas V150‑4.5 MW turbines (212 MW total capacity), the wind farm integrates into the SPEN 33 kV network and forms part of Scotland’s long‑term transition to clean energy.
In addition to its electrical complexity, North Kyle is a flagship land‑restoration project, transforming an extensive industrial landscape into a renewable energy hub supported by biodiversity regeneration and community investment.
The Challenge
The project required:
- Full EBoP design and delivery across a 30 km site footprint
- Installation of 353 km of 33 kV cabling, 87 km of control cabling, and 85 km of pre‑ducted fibre optics
- Integration of 49 high‑capacity turbines at ~1000 ft altitude
- Delivering two 33 kV 106 MW export circuits to SPEN
- Coordinating construction across multiple temporary office hubs
- Executing work safely within an evolving environmental restoration programme
North Kyle also demanded rigorous coordination with ecological, hydrological and heritage constraints linked to its former mining history.
Our Engineering Solution
Powersystems delivered the full Electrical Balance of Plant, including:
33 kV Substation & Network Infrastructure
- Indoor 33 kV switchgear, including bus coupler and spare
- Full protection relay suites, coordinated to SPEN requirements
- DC battery charging systems
- HV and LV cabling across 353 km of trench routes
- LV distribution for all substation equipment
- Fibre optic and communications networks (85 km pre‑ducted fibre)
- Customer substation electrical fit‑out
- DSM/ASM monitoring systems for both export circuits
- Power‑quality meters and National Grid‑compliant test panels
- Full earthing system design and installation
- CCTV installation and associated infrastructure
ICP Works
- Design, supply and installation of 33 kV ICP underground cable for 200 kVA connections
- Full adoption by SPEN via NERS‑accredited processes
Engineering Adaptations
Given the site’s large footprint and steep terrain:
- Multiple re‑engineered cable routes reduced excavation and energy losses
- Steep‑gradient cable pulling solutions were engineered to limit mechanical strain
- SCADA and protection systems were optimised for a multi‑circuit, high‑capacity layout
Project Process
- Dec 2023 — HV and fibre optic installation begins
- Early 2024 — Completion of major trenching routes; cable installation accelerated using pre‑ducted systems
- Mid‑2024 — Substation build, protection panel installation, fibre integration
- Late 2024 — Circuit testing, DSM/ASM integration, SPEN interface work
- 2025 — Turbine energisation sequence, SCADA commissioning and full system validation
- Oct 2025 — Site energised and handed over
Project Facts & Figures
- 49 turbines (Vestas V150‑4.5MW)
- 212 MW installed capacity
- 33 kV connection voltage
- 353 km of 33 kV cabling
- 87 km of control/signal cabling
- 85 km of pre‑ducted fibre optics
- Two 106 MW export circuits
- Site altitude: ~1000 ft
- NERS‑accredited ICP delivering SPEN‑adopted works
Technical Specifications
Electrical Infrastructure
- Indoor 33 kV GIS switchgear
- Protection systems (overcurrent, earth fault, vector shift, frequency, voltage control)
- DSM/ASM (Dynamic & Active System Management) for both export circuits
- HV/LV cable designs optimised for elevation and loading
- Substation LV fit‑out including heaters, lighting, power and life‑safety systems
Communications & Monitoring
- Fibre optic SCADA backbone (85 km)
- Power quality meters and National Grid test interface
- CCTV, site communications and monitoring networks
Earthing
- Full wind farm earthing system across 49 turbine foundations
- Substation earth grid with hot‑zone contour modelling
- EMF assessment and compliance
Partnerships
- Brockwell Energy — Client
- Jones Bros Civil Engineering — Principal civil works partner
- Natural Power — Engineering support & environmental consultancy
- SPEN — Receiving network operator
- Powersystems — ICP & EBoP contractor
Key Risks & Mitigations
- Extensive cable installation across steep gradients – Mitigation: Engineered cable pulls, revised trenching plans, graded winching systems.
- Environmental restoration surrounding a former coal site – Mitigation: Topsoil reinstatement, biodiversity enhancements, habitat-sensitive routing.
- 30 km dispersed site with multiple temporary hubs – Mitigation: Clear communication systems, multi-hub coordination, daily safety briefings.
- Dual high‑capacity export circuits – Mitigation: Protection coordination studies, DSM/ASM integration, SCADA‑based monitoring.
- Ecological & land‑use constraints – Mitigation: £600k native tree planting plan; minimised excavation using pre‑ducted fibre; controlled vehicle movements.
Environmental Considerations
North Kyle demonstrates how renewable projects can revitalise post‑industrial landscapes:
- Former coal mining land returned to natural use
- £600,000 in native tree planting
- £5.2 million total restoration funding
- Use of pre‑ducted fibre lowered ground disturbance
- Reduced carbon footprint through local material sourcing
Economic & Community Benefits
- Clean energy for approx. 183,000 homes
- Local employment and supply‑chain investment
- Expected £65 million in long‑term indexed community funding
- 9 Communities Community Group (9CCG) created to support benefit distribution
- Regeneration of a post‑industrial region
Future Prospects
North Kyle is a landmark Scottish wind project.
With a fully NERS‑certified, SPEN‑adopted electrical network, the site is engineered for:
- Long-term reliability
- Efficient grid interaction
- Low maintenance lifecycle
- Scalability for future renewable extensions
Related Projects
- Sandy Knowe 86.4 MW
- UK Onshore Wind EBoP (33–132 kV)
- Major SPEN‑integrated wind farm works
Delivering a 200+MW wind farm or multi circuit HV connection?
Powersystems provides complete EBoP delivery, HV substation engineering, grid integration and NERS‑ICP services for utility‑scale wind developments.