Viking Energy Wind Farm, Shetland

Client: SSE Renewables

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We were the Principal Contractor for the Balance of Plant, Design and Build of the civils and electrical works for a 443MW wind farm, located north of Lerwick. This included earthworks, 103no. wind turbine generators/turbines (4.3MW Vestas) foundations and associated (60x30m) hard standing/erection platforms, on-site access roads with multiple bridges/culverts over watercourses, drainage (temporary and permanent), cable tracks including the installation of 33kV cables, two (150x100m) site compounds, several temporary compounds, borrow pits, public road improvements including a new road with 22m-span bridge, and landscaping including peat restoration. The Principal Contractor role continued to completion in 2024.

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Principal Elements

• On-site roads 69,000m

• New public road 2,000m

• Cable tracks 70,000m

• Concrete 71,000m3

• Reinforcement (fixed on site) 11,000t+

• Installed cables 800,000+ linear metres

• Restored peat and blanket bog 265,000m2

• Rock extraction / processing 1,500,000m3

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Points of Interest

• Complex logistics operation to supply plant, labour and materials from the mainland to supplement that available locally

• Over 20% of expenditure spent locally

• 70,000m3 concrete aggregates won on site

• Floating and founded roads, steep access tracks (14%)

• Good relations maintained with local community and landowners

• Management of protected habitats and species

• Extremely large fleet of plant and associated personnel to achieve demanding construction programme

• Winter working including all-year-round concrete supply and snow clearance operations 24/7

• Up to 350 people working on the project at its peak