SSE Renewables is set to conclude decommissioning of the Hunterston National Offshore Wind Turbine Testing Facility with the controlled felling of the remaining turbine.
The original intention was to dismantle the components of the Siemens turbine by crane.
However, a suitable method of safely dismantling the turbine by crane could not be established.
As a result, controlled felling has been identified the only feasible method for decommissioning, SSE said.
The turbine is scheduled to be brought down by controlled explosion on Thursday 19 September subject to suitable weather conditions, it added.
Hunterston project manager Ross Cowie said “We have successfully employed the felling technique in conjunction with Keltbray to bring turbines down at other sites in the past, so we have the knowledge and experience to fell this turbine safely.”
Director of operations Jeremy Williamson said: “Our Hunterston testing facility was instrumental in enabling the deployment of offshore wind turbine technology for the UK’s offshore wind supply chain.
“The site had a key role in providing key data enabling the deployment of the 84 Siemens Gamesa 7MW turbines at the recently completed Beatrice offshore wind farm in Scotland.
“Hunterston also allowed for testing under real-world conditions technologies which have since been deployed on offshore wind turbines across the world.”
The site will be handed back to landowner Peel Ports following the decommissioning.