Welsh joint venture to deliver flagship wind farm development21st Oct 2013

A joint venture partnership between two Wales-based civil engineering firms has won the contract to provide civil and electrical infrastructure for one of the UK’s largest onshore wind farms.

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK and Balfour Beatty will operate in a 50:50 joint venture on behalf of Vattenfall to deliver infrastructure for the 76 turbine Pen y Cymoedd Wind Energy Project.

Construction of the scheme, located between Neath and Aberdare in South Wales, is due to get under way in February 2014.

The wind farm will be the largest onshore project in England and Wales, generating enough electricity to power 140,000 homes.

Speaking on behalf of the joint venture Huw Jones, managing director of Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK, said: “We are thrilled that Vattenfall has selected a Welsh joint venture for this prestigious contract, and look forward to working with Balfour Beatty on the project.

“We will be utilising our pool of Welsh engineers and labour to deliver the project, as well as creating new jobs and a skills legacy for the region.

“Jones Bros has a proven track record of providing infrastructure for renewable energy projects, and we are looking forward to applying our expertise to the Pen y Cymoedd development.”

Gwyn Pardoe, Balfour Beatty’s Director of Operations in Wales and Western England, said: “We are delighted to be delivering a scheme that will support both the prosperity of the local economy and UK’s investment in renewable energy.

“By harnessing Balfour Beatty’s national capability we will be able to drive value for our customer and maximise opportunities for local labour and businesses.

“Our regional knowledge means we can apply this experience to best effect in order to create a high quality development and a legacy within the local community.”

The joint venture’s work is due be completed in late 2015, with the overall Pen y Cymoedd project scheduled for completion in Spring 2017.

Piers Guy, Vattenfall’s director of onshore wind, said: “This large contract shows that the Welsh workforce has the skills and capabilities to work on large onshore wind energy projects in Wales and beyond.

“We have made clear from day one that we will maximise the opportunities for Welsh companies through Pen y Cymoedd.

“Vattenfall is delighted to see some of the largest private sector employers in Wales in the lead, sharing our commitment to maximise opportunities for the local economy through the project.

“As they finalise their supply chain, it’s clear that there will be more good news for Wales in the coming months.

Civil engineering work will see 50,000m³ of concrete and 6,000 tonnes of reinforcement used to construct the 76 turbine bases and crane pads. The Pen y Cymoedd site also requires the construction of around 80km of access tracks, as well as 80km of cabling.

The joint venture previously worked together to deliver the award winning £35m Porthmadog bypass on the A487.

The Pen y Cymoedd project was recently awarded the RenewableUK Cymru Green Award for Supply Chain Development, demonstrating its commitment and innovative methods in developing a strong supply chain in Wales.