Once you have secured the money to build you are on the home stretch. Now its time to confirm your grid connection, finalise your equipment delivery and mobilize your contractors. With the necessary money for the project raised, you can confirm the key actions that will see the project completed.

Grid Connection

You will have already asked for and received a quote for the cost of connecting to the grid from your Distribution Network Operator (DNO). Ideally you will have been given a provisional date for the job on the understanding that you project is likely to go ahead. Now you can confirm that date. The grid connection will prepare the distribution network for you to link your generator up to the grid.

Equipment Delivery

You are now ready to take delivery of your turbines or PV panels.  But don’t wait too long before placing your order for you equipment, as with the increasing demand for wind turbines, it is not uncommon for developers to have to wait 12 or 18 months for their turbines to be delivered. It is also likely you will have to put down a deposit of approximately 25% to secure your order. This is money you may well need to raise independently from bank finance for example. This may be equity you will have to raise independently.

Civil Engineering

You will also need to ensure your project-specific civil engineering arrangements are in place by this stage.  For a wind farm, this will likely involve installing the access tracks to carry the turbines from existing roads to their final location. The crane pads, a hard standing for supporting the cranes need to be built, trenches need to be dug, cables laid and the trenches back filled. Reinforced concrete foundations for the turbines need to be laid and switchroom needs to be built to enable the connection to the local electricity substation.