First Pentland Moor wind turbine is erected 11/12/12
Today’s weather conditions were ideal for the delicate operation to lift giant blades onto the first of six huge turbines for a £27 million wind farm by Stornoway.
The high pressure system which resulted in icy roads in the middle of the moor also
brought virtually calm conditions which allow a large crane to carefully lift a three-
The Pentland Road windfarm on crofters’ common grazings, two miles west of Stornoway, is finally taking shape some 11 years after the project was first mooted.
The turbines will dominate the skyline on the flat moorland on much of the north east coast of Lewis.
A convoy of trucks from a local plant filled the steel reinforced base with 1,000 tonnes of concrete.
Scott Maciver of Maciver Consultancy Services which is supervising the project said: “Freezing weather like this today was just perfect because wind is more than an issue.”
He said the construction created important local jobs.
Mr Maciver said the wind farm access roads were built using “about 90% local labour and more locals were employed for the turbine foundations.”
Two local staff have been hired to maintain the turbines once operational.
The turbines will be built on land used by Knock and Swordale crofters who will get lucrative rentals. Though some ten miles from the villages and on the other side of Stornoway, the land was used due to the lack of summer pasture in the Point area of the island.
The Stornoway Trust landlords and island developments trusts will also receive financial benefits.
It took 14 artic lorries to deliver the jib sections of the heavy lift crane. Four days are required just to dismantle the crane and reassemble it a few hundred metres away at the next turbine location.
The man at the bottom right of the photo puts in perspective how tall the turbines are.