By Jessica Knowles and John Colombi, Good Energy Generation 

Great news from our Generation team. Construction on Delabole Repower began yesterday.

Last time you heard from us was back in January when we had just secured the financing package for the project. Since then, we’ve been all systems go, getting everything lined up ready for construction work to begin. 

We’ve been carrying out a number of environmental, ecological and technical surveys at the site to help the guys decide how best to carry out the work in the safest and most practical way with the least impact to the environment. This has all been very positive and encouraging so we are thrilled that spades are now going in the ground – and, very importantly, on schedule.

We’ve also been working hard to ensure we meet the conditions attached to the planning permission and making a plan which needs to be approved by the council. We have also lined up archaeological monitoring and traffic management to ensure the construction works are carried out smoothly and safely with minimal disturbance.  We have been really impressed with the preparation works that our Balance of Plant contractors, Raymond Brown, and our Project Managers, PMSS have put together. Though of course, the Good Energy team will be on site to see how things are coming along. 

In the first few weeks the works will mainly consist of laying down access tracks so that people can get around the site, plus the construction of a temporary compound where the contractors can set up camp for the duration of the project. Later, in late May and June, the bigger access tracks for the turbines themselves will be constructed, along with the new substation building where all the metering and switchgear will live. Also in June, the all important foundation pads will be built. They need time to set, so this is a key one to get done on time – watch this space.

After this we’ll be putting down hard standings for the cranes to sit on as they put the new turbines up. By this time (we hope) the site will be sitting ready for our 4 new 2.3MW turbines to arrive.

Before they do though, there will be the slightly melancholic task of taking the old turbines down and finding new homes for them. Although the turbines are quite old we think that they will go on generating for quite a few years yet and we are figuring out where they will go. The team has spent a bit of time with them recently, prepping them up for their new life wherever they end up (and of course, we’re making the most of them while we still can!). They’ve certainly done us proud over the years.

The new turbines are due to arrive at the site in the middle of September this year, a little earlier than first expected. We can’t wait to see them going up and we will share the pictures and videos with you all as they do – we’ve seen the construction elsewhere and it is quite a sight. They should start generating in November as they are being commissioned and tested before we officially “take over” the turbines.

We’ll keep you all updated as things progress with the project. By the end of this year, after an impressive 18 years generating renewable energy, the site of the UK’s first commercial wind farm will see its second generation of turbines, more than doubling the capacity it has today. We can’t wait!