SSE has connected Blue Energy’s 109MW Beinneun wind farm to the UK grid, almost two months ahead of schedule.
The utility’s grid business Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said the accelerated grid connection was helped by the use of new conductor technology.
The company said it was able to use the technology – aluminium conductor composite core Monte Carlo conductor – by reconductoring and strengthening the existing 132kV steel towers instead of erecting new additional trident wood poles.
SSEN lead project manager Archie Munro said: “It is the first time that we have used these types of conductor on steel towers and we had to develop and adapt our usual installation techniques.
“We are using the same technology to connect the nearby Bhlaraidh wind farm to the network which we are now in the final stages of delivering.”
The Beinneun project consists of 10 Senvion 3.4MW M104 turbines and 22 3.4MW M114 machines.
Image: Blue Energy
