An extension to one of Scotland’s biggest wind farms, built by Jones Bros in partnership with Balfour Beatty, has been shortlisted for a top industry award.
The Clyde wind farm extension which has now been handed over to SSE Operations on behalf of Clyde Wind Farm (Scotland) Limited and is one of four finalists in the sustainable development category of the Scottish Green Energy Awards 2017.
The civil works for the scheme has been delivered by Jones Bros Civil Engineering in a joint venture with Balfour Beatty.
Organised by industry body, Scottish Renewables, the awards recognise the determination and innovation, as well as the people, organisations and communities that have helped the renewable energy industry evolve during a challenging time.
More than 100 entries were received across 10 categories. The finals will be held at Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 30 November – St Andrew’s Day.
The other finalists shortlisted in the sustainable category are: a biomass project, a transmission network substation and a cottage restoration.
As well as turbine bases and crane pads, the joint venture built approximately 35km of tracks to allow heavy plant to travel across the site.
The construction engineering works were completed and the extension to the Clyde Wind Farm was handed over to SSE Operations on behalf of Clyde Wind Farm (Scotland) Ltd at the end of August.
A total of 25 joint venture personnel remained at the site until the end of October, to finish landscaping and reinstatement work on the 54-turbine extension.
Renewable electricity generation is now equivalent to approximately 54 per cent of Scotland’s electricity consumption, two thirds of it from wind power.
The Clyde wind farm extension project has been calculated to have contributed as much as £121m to the Scottish economy during construction and to support around 500 jobs in Scotland through supply chain contracts.
Jones Bros regional manager, Garod Evans, said: “Sustainability was a high priority through the whole of the project. There were a number of challenges to overcome as we built the scheme, and everyone’s really pleased that our efforts have been recognised.”
Clyde Wind Farm (Scotland) Limited’s investment in the area has also included more than £20m of long-term support for community projects, from the community benefit fund.
Oliver Flattery, SSE’s Project Manager, said: “Clyde Extension was both technically and environmentally challenging, but the team met every challenge head on.
“We recently celebrated the completion of the extension, so to receive the news that we have been shortlisted for a Scottish Green Energy Awards just gives us a bit more to celebrate and be proud of.”