SSE Renewables has poured concrete for the first turbine base for the 440MW Viking Energy wind farm on the Scottish island of Shetland.
Eight ready-mix lorries carried the concrete to the turbine site from two batching plants set up nearby, each of which can mix 50 cubic metres an hour.
The concreting operation involved ready-mix lorries from local company Garriock Bros and high-grade aggregates from the company’s quarry at Vatster.
Once the concrete has cured, the base is backfilled with materials excavated from the site, leaving only the centre ring showing, ready for the turbine tower to be bolted on.
The Vestas turbines will arrive on site for erection in early 2023.
Viking Energy is on course to go into renewable energy production in late 2024.
SSE Renewables head of onshore wind farm development Derek Hastings said: “It is really fantastic to get to this point in the project.
“This moment is one that the project team and all of our contractors can be proud of.
“While there is still a way to go until the completion of the Viking Wind Farm, we have come so far in a relatively short time – one which included the challenges of the pandemic and unusually prolonged winter weather in Shetland.
“We’re another step closer to realising SSE Renewables’ own wind energy targets and the net zero ambitions of both Scotland and the UK.”
Viking Project stakeholder manager Aaron Priest said: “This is literally a concrete landmark for the Viking project.
“The logistics ran like clockwork and the teams from RJ McLeod and its sub-contractors have done a tremendous job. Now they just have to repeat their skill and precision another 102 times.”