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Windy Rig Wind Farm

United Kingdom / Wind power / Project

Windy Rig Wind Farm is a subsidy-free project located on the Moorbrock Estate, 10km south of New Cumnock, Dumfries & Galloway.

Key facts

  • 12
    Turbines
  • 43MW
    Installed capacity
  • December 2017
    Consented
  • February 2020
    Construction started
  • £215,000 per year
    Community Fund

Latest updates Windy Rig Wind farm

Replacement component delivery

Work to widen the B729 and C35 roads will commence on Tuesday 19 April with the works expected to take 5 weeks to complete. The widening works are required to facilitate the delivery of a replacement turbine component following a technical fault on one of the turbines. 

Windy Rig wind farm complete and generating electricity

Windy Rig wind farm, developed by Statkraft, is now fully operational and generating green electricity from Dumfries & Galloway; producing enough electricity to power an estimated 41,000 homes per year. Read the news article for more information. 

halfway through our blade delivery programme

We are now halfway through our blade delivery programme. This is the first time a specialist blade transporter is being used in the UK. 

Two incidents involving crane vehicles

At the beginning of March there were two incidents involving crane vehicles on their way to the Windy Rig Wind Farm site. There were no injuries at either incident and the relevant authorities were notified.

Update – Turbine Delivery Trial Runs Complete

Work continued to progress well on the Windy Rig development throughout December and January.

Update - Turbine Delivery Trial Run 17 December

The turbine trial run on Thursday 10 December went well - this simulated a blade delivery, the longest component we need to deliver to the site. The next trial run will simulate the delivery of a tower component, on Thursday 17 December.

Update - Turbine Delivery Trial Run 10 December

A turbine delivery trial run is being planned for Thursday 10 December 2020 (postponed from 3 December). This involves driving a long trailer unit along the transport route to simulate the journey of the longest turbine component (the blade).

What’s Happening Onsite?

Progress has been good, with more access tracks completed and work starting on the turbine foundations.

Local roads update

We are pleased to have been able to significantly reduce traffic on local roads by producing some of the materials required on-site.

Improving local roads

Work starts this week on ten new passing places along the B729. They will be of sufficient width to allow one HGV to pull into a passing place to allow another HGV to pass safely. 

Reducing construction traffic

One way of minimising construction traffic on local roads is to produce some of the materials required on the site, such as the aggregates for concrete and access tracks. 

Planning a Safe Return to Site part 2

Over the past week, we have been preparing the site compound to ensure that we can operate safely and comply with the Scottish and UK Governments guidance on social distancing. 

Planning a Safe Return to Site

Following the site closure in March, we have been tracking and analysing Government and Industry guidance as it has evolved. Windy Rig is classified as a high priority project and considered essential in the security of supply on the National Grid Network. 

Windy Rig Construction Site Closure

Statkraft is closely monitoring the development of the COVID-19 outbreak and is taking continuous measures in line with the advice of the Scottish and UK Governments. 

History

In December 2017, the project was granted planning permission by Dumfries and Galloway Council. Originally developed by Element Power, consultation with local communities and statutory consultees took place to develop Windy Rig Wind Farm. The project will represent a natural extension to the existing and consented cluster of wind turbines at Windy Standard. As well as concentrating wind farms in one area, this also means infrastructure can be shared with other developments, reducing environmental effects.

In October 2018 Statkraft acquired Element Power Ireland Ltd, which included the consented Windy Rig Wind Farm. We are pleased that many of the team that developed the project are now involved in its construction.

Construction

Statkraft has appointed Scottish company RJ McLeod to undertake the civil engineering works, with turbines being supplied by Vestas.

We have a traffic alerts system in place for users of the B729 - please contact us if you would like to be added.

 

Latest updates on turbine deliveries to Windy Rig Wind Farm

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Community

We want to keep local residents and road users up to date during construction. We have met with the Carsphairn Community Council and continued regular Community Liaison Group (CLG) meetings to discuss how we can minimise disruption and keep residents informed, particularly users of the B729. This will be especially important when the turbines are delivered to site.

We are also starting to discuss the community benefit fund arrangements with the CLG. Please contact us for more information.

Timeline:

  • Site office established

    Feb-Mar 2020

  • Additional passing places on the B729 agreed

    Mar-Apr 2020

  • Widening of some parts of the C35 road to improve access

    May 2020

  • Roadside laydown area construction

    June 2020

  • Turbine delivery trial run

    Early sep 2020

  • Turbine deliveries

    Sep-Oct 2020

  • Turbine erection commences

    Early 2021

  • Wind farm operational

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