A turbine blade travelling along the A9 to the Gordonbush Extension site (credit: Peter Sutherland)
Development of SSE Renewables’ Gordonbush Extension wind farm has reached a landmark with the completion of turbine component deliveries to the site.
The final component delivery arrived at the wind farm site on Tuesday 9 March. Gordonbush Extension is a significant development for SSE Renewables as it is the first onshore wind farm to be operated on a merchant basis, receiving no state subsidy.
The delivery route saw turbine components travel under police escort from port at Nigg through the villages of Golspie and Brora to the wind farm site 9.5 kilometres west of Brora. Deliveries began on 24 November and were scheduled to be completed by late January.
However challenging weather conditions at the Gordonbush Extension site, including deep, drifting snow and temperatures which reached as low as -15 centigrade, caused disruption during January and February.
Mike Scott, project manager for the Gordonbush Extension wind farm, said:
“The completion of turbine component deliveries is an important milestone in the construction of Gordonbush Extension. SSE Renewables staff, along with our local contractors, have worked in some very challenging winter conditions to reach this point.
“We are very grateful to the communities of Brora and Golspie, and the surrounding areas, for their patience during this delivery programme. We can now look forward to completing the construction of Gordonbush Extension and beginning the operational phase of the extension in spring.”
Once completed, the Gordonbush Extension site will consist of 11 turbines, providing 37 megawatts of clean energy to the grid.
More information on Gordonbush Extension can be found at www.sserenewables.com/gordonbushextension.