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ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

Oct/Nov 2011 www.esb.ie/em

Aertech also acts as a channel for key areas of support from other service providers including: Civil and Structural, High Voltage, Environmental, Building Construction Group and Power System Studies teams.

During development, Aertech provides detailed project schedules, costs, design, and tendering services, in addition to management of wind turbine and electrical balance of plant contracts, on-site management, supervision and cost control. The team also has dedicated wind analysts who provide support in wind data capture, optimising layouts, advice on turbine types and feed key energy yield/production information.

Group Expertise and Support

All wind projects are delivered using the Project Delivery Methodology (PDM). The PMO is central to implementing this system, which includes best practice project management techniques to address significant risks which present with building any significant infrastructure.

In addition to the services provided by ESBI and the PMO, no wind development project could be successfully delivered without the expertise, collaboration and valuable contributions from ESB Networks and ESB Group Legal, Insurance and Finance.

ESB’s Wind Development Portfolio.

ESBI Civil and Structural Engineering overseeing the concrete pour of foundations at Fullabrook Wind Farm in Devon.

Current Projects

This year sees three projects coming on stream. The first, Grouse Lodge in Co. Limerick, is a six turbine 15MW project using Nordex turbines. The 38kV line connection to Rathkeale 110kV station was installed by ESB Networks and energised on schedule in April of this year. The wind farm, which was developed, designed and engineered in-house, was completed in September 2011.

Curryfree Wind Farm, situated close to Derry City, was also handed over on schedule during August of this year. Similar to Grouse Lodge, it is a six turbine 15MW project using the same Nordex turbines and, in this case, the overhead 33kV line was built by Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE).

The third project scheduled for completion this year is Fullabrook Wind Farm located in north Devon in the southwest of England. At 66MW, this will be the largest onshore wind farm built in England to date. The project was acquired when the grid connection offer and planning permission were in place and the design, engineering and procurement were subsequently carried out by ESB. The wind farm consists of 22 Vestas V90 turbines.

The Future

This year was a very successful year for the Wind Development team and 2012 looks set to be similarly busy. The 21MW project located at Carrickatane in Co. Derry is in the latter stages of development prior to construction, as is the proposed 35MW Myndd y Betws project near Swansea in South Wales.

Commenting on the success of the wind development programme, ESB Energy International Executive Director Pat O’Doherty said, “The hard work and dedication of staff from all parts of ESB have helped Wind Development successfully deliver its portfolio of projects and I know that this support will be forthcoming into the future.”

Consultation with local communities is an important aspect of all wind development projects. Pictured during Fullabrook’s recent public exhibition (l-r): Owen Sisk of JSSL, Asset Development Manager John McSweeney, John Lenihan, Andy Paine and Sean Farrell of Wind Development, and Rory Jordan, Consultant Engineer.

Wind Development Projects in Operation

Wind Development Projects in Development