EDF Renewables UK is to start construction on the 102MW Stranoch wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
I&H Brown have been awarded the contract to complete the civil engineering works for the construction phase, as first reported by subscriber-only reNEWS on 23 May.
Over the last 12 months EDF Renewables UK has been preparing the roads in and around Stranoch wind farm in ahead of construction.
Located between New Luce and Barrhill, the site comprises 20 turbines.
Vestas will supply and install the wind turbines – 9 x V150-6.0 MW; 7 x V136-4.5 MW; 4 x V117-4.3 MW. Powersystems UK will complete the electrical work on the site, from installation to testing and commissioning of the high voltage electrical infrastructure and control building.
Construction of the wind farm, which is due to become operational in late 2026, started earlier this week.
Once operational, more than £500,000 per year will be injected back into local projects and initiatives, EDF Renewables said.
With a minimum 30-year lifespan of the site, this amounts to at least £15m going directly back into the local area through a dedicated Community Benefit Fund.
A proportion of the wind farm’s electricity generation will be bought by major retailer Tesco, with the clean energy due to power the equivalent of more than 80 average sized supermarkets for a year.
Another proportion will be bought by BAE Systems and provide clean energy to power around 40% of its current UK energy demand, supporting major technology programmes including the production of Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy in Glasgow.
CPPAs have been facilitated by EDF Business Solutions with a third CPPA covering the rest of the electricity generation will be announced soon.
EDF Renewables UK has been working closely with local stakeholders and residents to minimise impact as far as possible and this regular dialogue will continue as the project gathers pace, according to the developer.
The company is prioritising working with Scottish and local businesses where possible, including civil contractors RJ MacLeod completing the enabling works and using the local quarry for stone, it added.
Matthieu Hue, chief executive of EDF Renewables UK, said: “At a time when tackling climate change and energy security are at the forefront of all our minds, EDF Renewables UK is pleased to reach this major milestone on Stranoch.
“We are delighted to be working with Tesco on yet another project in Scotland to help the business decarbonise its retail portfolio and look forward to working with BAE Systems for the first time on such a project.
“We very much pride ourselves on working closely with local people at every stage of the process and enabling communities to maximise the benefit from renewable energy developments.
“As construction progresses, we will continue our regular dialogue with residents and communities around the project. I would like to thank the local community and everyone who has contributed to the project thus far.”
As part of the CPPAs, EDF Business Solutions will provide Tesco and BAE Systems with power balancing and shaping services, in addition to sleeving the power into the supply agreements and enabling the energy transfer from the wind farm to the two companies.