Construction of the onshore works for a Scottish offshore wind farm took a “purposefully slow step forward” over the weekend.
Under police escort, a “massive shunt reactor” for the Neart na Gaoite (NnG) development was delivered to its connection points in the Lammermuir Hills.
The 160-tonne piece of equipment will provide voltage control and compensates for the length of the onshore and offshore cables that will deliver green electricity from the development, which is under construction in the outer Forth estuary, to its onshore substation at the existing Crystal Rig onshore wind farm.
The substation is planned for completion next year and is a vital component for NnG, which is being developed by EDF Renewables and ESB.
Starting in Port of Leith, the shunt reactor was loaded onto a 67 metre long trailer and transported overnight Friday into Saturday to Innerwick, East Lothian.
It was then transferred onto a 45m long trailer capable of negotiating the narrower road up to Crystal Rig.
A second shunt reactor is due for delivery next weekend.
NnG is being built off the east coast of Scotland, about 9 miles from the Fife coast.
It will cover an area of around 40m2 and will be capable of generating 450 megawatts of green electricity.
Saipem, NnG’s tier one service provider, has so far awarded contracts for work on the wind farm to several Scottish employers, including InfraStrata and Texo Group.
Matt Haag, NnG project director, said: “The shunt reactor is vital to enable NnG’s safe connection to the National Grid. We’re grateful to all our neighbours in Innerwick and the surrounding area for their patience as we ensured its safe passage to the substation.”
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