Introduction / Overview
Construction of wind farms comprises a number of phases - see panel to left . Each phase has the potential to cause nuisance and disruption for residents living both close to the site and along the route to the site.
The heavy construction phase - approx 20,00 lorry journeys in the Rusholme example.
- Widening of roads, changing junctions & building special access roads to the site.
- Setting up the construction compound with offices, large storage facilities and vehicle wash.
- Building of the site roads - 1 metre deep gravel and 4.5 metres wide.
- Excavation for the turbine foundations.
- Building of hard-standings for the 100 ton crane.
- Removal of excavated soil from site.
The building work - approx 14,000 ton of steel & concrete, all delivered by lorry.
- Casting the concrete bases for the turbines - 720 tons per turbine and back-filling.
- Building the electricity substation - on Roe Lane.
- Cabling from turbines to the sub-station and to the grid connection - several miles of trenches.
Erecting the turbines
Uses a 100 ton mobile crane capable of lifting 100 ton to 80 meters height.
Turbines delivered in sections - 11 loads per turbine - 154 loads in total.
One lorry
One dust cloud.
Now multiply by
20,000
