Ben Aketil

Summary

Current status : Completed in December 2007
Location : Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, Highlands, SCOTLAND
Number of turbines : 10
Expected capacity : 23 MW
The amount of clean energy produced annually is the equivalent to the energy consumed by: 12, 880
Amount of CO2 saved : 52,000 tonnes
Planning authority : Highland Council
Project manager : Alaisdair MacPherson

The Ben Aketil wind farm site lies approximately 18 km west of the town of Portree on the Isle of Skye.

The site covers a hilly region of generally open moorland to the northwestern end of the island with site elevations ranging from 90 m to 266 m along a gently sloping northwest to southeast ridge. The surrounding area consists of similar terrain rising to 490 m peaks 10 km due west and 15 km due east. The Cuillins with several peaks over 950 m are located 28 km to the southeast.

The site is mainly used for grazing however there is a large coniferous plantation along the northeast ridge, where trees up to 10 m tall are located within 100 m of some of the turbines.

The wind farm is owned by Ben Aketil Wind Energy Limited, part of Falck Renewables. The project was developed in partnership with RDC Scotland in association with WCE.

The project consists of 10 turbines each rated at 2.3 MW with a total site capacity of 23 MW. The project is connected via a 5 km 33 kV overhead power line to the Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution Ltd network connecting the towns of Dunvegan and Portree. The turbines are supplied by Enercon GmbH model reference E-70 E4 which is a variable pitch and variable speed machine which directly drives an electric generator (ie has no gearbox). The turbine design is modern and very energy efficient but also well proven with more than 1,300 units in operation around the world. The rotor diameter is 71 m and the height of the tower is 64 m.

Planning permission for the project was granted in August 2006 by the Highland Council and work started on the site during October 2006. The contract to build the project was executed with the German turbine supplier Enercon GmbH with all civil works provided by the local Highland Contractor Morrison Construction. All electrical works were provided by Scottish and Southern Energy Ltd Hydro Contracting and was completed in December 2007. The construction programme allows for the complete closing down of the site to avoid disturbing birds, particularly raptors including the Hen Harrier, during the critical breeding season March to August. The impact of road transport of construction material has been reduced by making as much use as possible of material found on site in a small borrow pit which includes excellent track building stone.

Once completed, the project will be maintained under a long term (12-year) contract with Enercon. Each turbine will be monitored 24 hours a day seven days a week and any maintenance will be carried out by specially trained and qualified technicians visiting the project. The availability of the project is expected to be good (more than 97%) and the safe, efficient, reliable and clean generation of electricity is a fundamental requirement under our contract with Enercon.