Reinstatement on track at Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm12th Aug 2019

Reinstatement works are progressing to plan at the 27-turbine Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm in Denbigh, as the site starts generating renewable energy.

Owned by innogy Renewable UK, Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK started work as principal contractor on the £20m project in March 2018.

One of the country’s leading wind farm contractors, the family firm’s headquarters and training centre is located just 10 miles away in Ruthin and many of the workers at the site come from the local area. 

At Clocaenog Forest, Jones Bros has also been able to provide 15 apprentices and trainees with experience of a major renewables scheme, helping them develop their skills for the future.

So far, it has constructed 8km of new access tracks, upgraded 20km of existing tracks, built crane hard standings, completed the installation of cabling to connect the turbines to the electricity grid and has completed the 33kV/132kV substation. Reinstatement works are being completed across the site.

A total of 18 turbines have now been erected, with the remainder due for installation by the end of August.

Jones Bros project manager Rhys Roberts said: “It’s always a satisfying milestone when the wind farm starts generating renewable energy.

“It’s been a fantastic project to work on and we’re looking forward to finishing the reinstatement works before handing the site over to innogy.”

Established in the 1950s in Ruthin, Jones Bros is now being run by the second and third generations of the founding family and employs more than 400 people.

The firm has also worked closely with the local community, which will receive a community investment fund from innogy worth up to £768,000 per annum, throughout the lifetime of the project once the wind farm is operational.

Jones Bros has worked closely with local schools to organise site visits for pupils over the course of the project. This has included visits from Ysgol Betws Gwerfil Goch, Ysgol Bro Elwern, Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, Ysgol Gellifor and Myddelton College.

Situated within the working forest managed by Natural Resources Wales, the scheme will have the capacity to generate enough electricity to meet the needs of up to 63,800 average UK homes per year.

Andy Clayton, Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm project manager said: “I’m extremely proud of the team.

“Despite challenging conditions at times, we now have 18 turbines erected and the recent achievement of first generation is a testament to the team’s hard work.

“Now that the turbine components have all been delivered to site, I’d also like to take the time to say a big thank you to the local communities and the police for their support and patience throughout the process.”