Member Article

Concrete pours start at 27-turbine Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK has reached a major milestone at a 27-turbine wind farm scheme in North Wales.

Concrete pours to construct the turbine bases at Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm have started, and the civil engineering contractor is using on-site batching plants to reduce vehicle journeys.

The plant allows Jones Bros to mix concrete on site, rather than transport it to the location.

Each turbine requires an average of 600 cubic metres of concrete and 90 tonnes of reinforcement steel.

The wind farm is located just 10 miles from Jones Bros’ head office and training centre in Ruthin, Denbighshire. The family-owned company was appointed by renewable energy developer innogy Renewables UK to work on the project, which is located within the working forest managed by Natural Resources Wales.

And Jones Bros site agent Rhys Roberts is pleased with how it is progressing.

“We are on schedule and we are due to complete the concrete pours in October,” he said.

“Having access to our own batching plants is hugely beneficial to the local residents, who will experience less traffic on the roads due to the concrete being mixed on site.

“We have approximately 70 Jones Bros staff on site, including 15 apprentices and trainees. In addition to the construction of the turbine bases, we are continuing to upgrade existing and build new tracks, install crane pads, and build a new control building to manage the flow of electricity generated to the national grid.”

Jones Bros has also worked closely with the local community, which will receivea community investment fund from innogy worth up to £768,000 per annum once the wind farm is operational.

Rhys added: “We have welcomed three schools on visits, as well as provided Denbigh Rotary Club with a tour of the development.

“The team have also been out to knock on doors and speak to residents, which has been good for them to put faces to the names. The local ambulance and fire crews were also provided with a demonstration of a turbine rescue if a worker became ill while working at height.”

Andy Clayton, Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm project manager, said: “Progress on innogy’s largest UK onshore wind farm is coming along very well. The concrete pours are going smoothly and I look forward to the next milestone of the turbine deliveries.”

Tanya Davies, innogy Renewables head of business development, Northern Europe, said: “We are pleased that the local community is as involved as possible and we look forward to continuing to engage closely with the local community as the project progresses..”

The infrastructure contract awarded to Jones Bros comprises construction of 8km of new access tracks and upgrade of 20km of existing tracks; 27 turbine bases and crane pads; plus an on-site control building with a 33kv/132kV substation. The wind farm will have the capacity to generate enough electricity to supply 63,800 homes.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .