CONCRETE is being poured on the first wind turbine base at the site of the £566 million Viking Energy Wind Farm.
Once completed, the Shetland facility will be the UK’s largest onshore wind farm – with it being capable of meeting the needs of 475,000 homes.
Eight ready-mix lorries carried the concrete to the turbine site from two batching plants set up nearby, each of which can mix 50 cubic metres an hour.
Once the concrete has cured, the base will be backfilled with materials excavated from the site – leaving only the centre ring showing – ready for the turbine tower to be bolted on in early 2023.
The project, which is a joint venture by SSE and Shetland Council, is utilising local contractors. The ready-mix lorries were supplied by Garriock Bros and high-grade aggregate’s from the firm’s quarry at Vatster were also used. RJ McLeod is the main contractor for the overall works.
Head of onshore wind farm development, Derek Hastings, said, “It is really fantastic to get to this point in the project. This moment is one that the project team and all of our contractors can be proud of. While there is still a way to go until the completion of the Viking Wind Farm, we have come so far in a relatively short time – one which included the challenges of the pandemic and unusually prolonged winter weather in Shetland.
“We’re another step closer to realising SSE Renewables’ own wind energy targets and the net zero ambitions of both Scotland and the UK.”
Stakeholder manager for the Viking Project, Aaron Priest, added, “This is literally a concrete landmark for the Viking project. The logistics ran like clockwork and the teams from RJ McLeod and its sub-contractors have done a tremendous job. Now they just have to repeat their skill and precision another 102 times!”
