Coal Clough was one of the first commercial windfarms to be built anywhere in the UK when it became operational in 1992, and is now one of only a handful of sites across the country that has been repowered. Coal Clough Windfarm is located to the southeast of Burnley, approximately 4km southeast of Mereclough village.
Client
Scottish Power Renewables
The Project:
The project comprised the decommissioning of the existing 24 legacy Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) at Coal Clough and construction of a new windfarm near Mereclough, Lancashire, England. Over 18 months ScottishPower Renewables invested £22.5 million to replace wind turbines installed in 1992, with eight modern turbines, increasing the total generating capacity of the windfarm from 9.6 megawatts (MW) to 16 MW. These were to be erected in predefined locations, with Farrans as main contractor carrying out all associated electrical and civil infrastructure.
Due to access issues in the village of Mereclough, an additional 1km access track was constructed, with a further 4.4km required to link the WTGs, substation and control compound.
Services & Expertise:
Farrans is one of only a small number of UK and Ireland contractors to have delivered a repowering project of this nature. Coal Clough was at the forefront of the green energy revolution in the UK when it first came on line in the early 90’s, and our project ensures that this area will continue to play a role in providing clean electricity for the national grid for decades to come. Onshore wind is the most cost effective and viable renewable energy source in the UK. Coal Clough has produced enough power to meet the electricity demands of just under 5000 homes every year since 1992 and the new project should meet the needs of over 8500 homes per year. As well as supporting around 75 jobs in construction, the windfarm is now managed by a full-time site supervisor, plus two technicians.