First Galson wind turbine is installed 19/9/13
The first of three community wind turbines planned by Galson Estate Trust has been installed at Ballantrushal on Westside, Lewis.
The turbine is expected to be producing electricity to the National Grid within weeks.
The community landlord has full planning permission for three wind turbines at the site. The total project cost of the first turbine phase is £2.4 million.
The turbine is a 900kW capacity wind generator and is 55 metres high to the hub. It is the same model of turbine installed in Shawbost and in North Tolsta.
Turbine sections arrived by ship and were discharged and temporarily stored by No3 pier in Stornoway harbour.
Installation works commenced a week Monday. By Thursday evening, the main tower structure was built, awaiting the rotor and blades. These were assembled on Friday morning, awaiting suitable weather conditions for lifting into place.
The final stage on Friday afternoon required a wait until 2pm or the wind to drop to 13mph to allow the blades to be installed safely.
The nose cone was fitted in the early evening and, following final checks, the securing pin was then removed, allowing the blades to turn into the wind.
Carola Bell, chair of the landlord’s subsidiary company Galson Energy said: “It is was very exciting to witness the installation being successfully completed last week.
“This gives a great boost to the company and to Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn in realising an important part of the vision set out for Galson Estate.
“We can now turn our focus to the final stages of commissioning and energising the turbine over the coming weeks, looking forward to becoming an electricity generator later in the autumn.”