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ENERGY INTERNATIONAL
Oct/Nov 2011 www.esb.ie/em
Wind Development powers ahead
ASSET DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT OF A substantial wind portfolio is crucial in the delivery of ESB’s goal to halve its CO2 emissions from the generation of electricity by 2020 and to be net carbonneutral by 2035. In the past three years alone, over 250MW of wind capacity has been added to ESB’s generation capacity and further developments are in the pipeline.
ESB Energy International’s Wind Development group is responsible for the identification of wind projects and sites and their subsequent development and management through to commercial operation.
Headed by Brian Ryan, the Wind Development team has developed eight new wind farms in Ireland and Britain since 2008, delivering 210MW. In the same period, four operational wind farms have also been acquired, totalling 45MW. These substantial developments bring ESB’s total wind generation capacity in the All-Island market to over 325MW.
Wind Development
Projects begin life in Wind Development as either greenfield developments or acquisitions. On greenfield projects, suitable landowners are found, planning permissions sought and grid offers received.
The main activities of the Acquisitions Group centre around due diligence and commercial negotiation to ensure the right projects are acquired at the right price. The Wind Development team prepares the final business case for investment, selecting suppliers and fixing on the final scope, budget and timelines. During construction, the project directors within Wind Development monitor progress to ensure these business case commitments are delivered.
Safety
Safety is of paramount importance on all phases of ESB’s wind projects, from site investigation and construction activities, through to long-term operation. Great emphasis has been placed on making safety a number one priority on all wind farm development, and much work has been completed over the years to embed best practice from design through to commissioning.
This emphasis on the importance of safety is reflected in the improving safety record on Wind Development projects where Lost Time Incidents (LTIs) have reduced from three in 2009 to one in 2010 and 2011. There has been over 100,000 hours of construction work completed to date since the last LTI, and both the Crockagarran and Grouse Lodge projects, with over 120,000 construction hours, have been completed with zero Lost Time Injuries.
“Safety is of paramount importance on all phases of ESB’s wind projects
Cross-Company Collaboration
Wind Development is a closely knit team that operates with support from internal financial analysis, accounting and commercial functions. The group also works very closely with many other business lines across ESB, all of whom make a valuable contribution in the delivery of ESB’s wind projects.
Civil Engineering
Civil engineering services, from planning through to construction, are managed by ESBI’s Civil & Structural group, thus ensuring continuity, effective management and risk control throughout the project lifecycle. The C&S team has been involved in renewables since 2000 and has worked on projects totalling nearly 1,000MW both in Ireland and the UK.
In Ireland, wind-farm projects are often located on upland sites covered in blanket bog, presenting geotechnical challenges that are managed by a risk management system developed in-house in association with Irish and international experts. The team also manages the construction phase of the project, including roads to facilitate deliveries of blades up to 50m in length and large foundations involving concrete pours of over 1,000 tonnes.
Engineering and Project Management
ESBI’s Aertech team provides a wide range of specialist technical services to the Wind Development group, from initial concept through to asset handover. The group assists in the due diligence process of potential project acquisitions, capital costs, grid connection support and managing greenfield projects through to consents phase.
