BURN OF WHILK WIND FARM

BURN OF WHILK WIND FARM
Construction Commences on BoP works in April 2014
Construction of the main civil works for the 9 turbine scheme began in April 2014,
although an enabling contract for tree felling was already underway from late 2013.
I & H Brown, a Scottish contractor from Perth, were engaged as the Balance of Plant
(BoP) Contractor to install the 8km of roads, hardstandings and foundations for the
nine turbines, cabling to link the turbines to the switchgear building and construction
of the switchgear building itself on the site. The first activities on site are the
establishment of a site compound, commencement of road works and opening up of
the on-site borrow pit.
Commencement of road works.
Installation of the site compound
Installation of the bell-mouth entrance at the A99
Commencement of work at the on-site borrow pit
May to August 2014
Construction works continued with the installation of the windfarm roads and the
commencement of the excavation of the turbine foundations. Steel reinforcement
works at the turbine foundations commenced in the period. Groundworks commenced
at the switchgear building. Tree felling and export of the felled trees to Wick harbour
progressed within the period. A selection of photographs to show progress in the
period are included below.
Excavation works at turbine foundation
Tree felling works on the site
Commencement of works at the switchgear building
Continuation of road works within the wind farm
September 2014
The fine weather in September meant that work on the road and turbine construction
progressed well. Concreting of the lower section of turbine foundations was completed
at three turbine locations. All but 500m out of the ten kilometers of roads are now
installed. Excavation works continued at the final two turbine foundations with steel
reinforcement work ongoing at another three foundations. The switchgear building
foundation and floor slab works were completed in the month. Tree felling works
continued in the core area of the windfarm. A selection of photographs to show
progress in September are included below.
Completion of the foundation works and floor slab at the switchgear building
Tree felling works on the site
Installation of steel reinforcement at the turbine foundation
Concreting of the lower section of the turbine foundation at T106
October 2014
Concreting of the lower section of turbine foundations was completed at four turbine
locations in the month. Seven out of nine turbine foundation now have the lower
section completed. Work commenced on the installation of the steel and anchor cages
in the upper section at three turbine foundation locations. All of the ten kilometers of
roads are now installed. Excavation works were completed at the penultimate turbine
foundation and continued at the final turbine foundation. The switchgear building
blockwork commenced in the month. Tree felling works continued in the core area of
the windfarm with over 80% of the tree felling now complete. A selection of
photographs to show progress in October are included below.
Backfilling around the lower section of the turbine foundation at T107
Excavation at the penultimate turbine foundation at T108
Installation of the anchor cage in the upper section of the turbine foundation at T105
Blockwork at the switchgear building
November 2014
The concentration of work in the month was on the concreting of the upper sections
of the turbine foundations. Four out of nine turbine foundations have now been fully
completed. Steel reinforcement works continued on the final five upper foundation
sections with the anticipation that all foundations will be complete in December.
Excavation works commenced for the cable installation from the switchgear building
to the first two turbine foundations. The switchgear building blockwork was completed
in the month along with the installation of the roof trusses and the slate roof. Work
commenced on the Caithness stone external cladding for the building. Tree felling
works are nearing completion with over 96% of the tree felling now complete. The
delivery of the first turbine components is expected the first week in January 2015. A
selection of photographs to show progress in November are included below.
Upper section concrete works at T101 with plinth formwork
Upper section concrete works at T101 – completed foundation
Switchgear Building - commencement of roof tile work
Switchgear Building – installation of external doors and external stone walls