A major milestone has been marked in the development of Mill Rig Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire with the delivery of the ‘longest turbine blades ever to be installed at a UK onshore wind farm’ now underway.
The blades, each measuring 80 metres in length, are being transported to the site as part of the construction of the 33.4MW wind farm, being developed by OnPath Energy. Deliveries have been planned to take place through the night to minimise disruption ahead of commissioning and full energisation of the wind farm this summer.
The wind farm will feature six turbines with tip heights of 199.5 metres.
Jules Rankin-Perez, head of construction at OnPath Energy, said, “The arrival of these blades is a defining moment for the Mill Rig project. Their scale is remarkable, but more importantly, they represent a step change in how efficiently we can generate renewable energy. By using the latest turbine technology, we are able to deliver more clean power from fewer turbines, which benefits both the environment and the local community.”
Specialist haulage teams have managed the journey to site. The delivery process has been designed in partnership with contractors and local authorities including principal contractors RJ McLeod, Nordex, McFadyen, Renfrewshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council.
Nordex has previously supplied turbines for projects including the Kype Muir Extension. To date, the firm has installed wind turbines with a total capacity of around 65 GW in over 40 countries.
Jason Welch, regional VP and MD of Nordex UK & Ireland, added, “The delivery of these 80-metre blades to Mill Rig marks a major milestone not only for the project, but for onshore wind in the UK. These are the largest blades ever to be installed at a UK onshore wind farm, and they will form part of the Nordex Group’s first N163/5.X turbines to be installed in the UK.
“This underlines how quickly turbine technology is advancing and the role it plays in delivering more efficient, higher-yield renewable energy projects. We’re proud to be working with OnPath on this project which will generate significant clean electricity, strengthen energy security and create lasting benefits for local communities.”
OnPath has also worked with Natural Power to provide owner’s engineer services for Mill Rig Wind Farm, providing technical and construction management expertise. They were responsible for the co-ordination of design safety in the role as principal designer under CDM regulations.
The wider Mill Rig development is supporting around 300 jobs, with an estimated £91 million of contract value directed to firms within 60km of the site.
