Aviemore engineering firm wins its biggest contract to date
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An Aviemore environmental engineering firm has been awarded its biggest contract to date to help service two wind farms in the region.
McGowan Environmental Engineering based at Dalfaber Industrial Estate has secured work worth £7.2m from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution to deliver 81-kilometres of 33kV cabling at turbines at Burn of Whilk in Caithness and Moy near Inverness.
The cabling provides a grid connection from the wind farms.
These projects will involve the installation of new single-circuit and triple-circuit underground cabling as well as fibre-optic cable – including cross-bonding and intermediate earthing – across rural land.
Company spokesman Rory Black said: "We have recently made a considerable investment to secure new and innovative cabling equipment.
"This technology allows us to provide a more efficient and effective service, reducing time and cost for the client while also minimising the environmental impact across sensitive landscapes."
Works on the installation of the high-voltage underground cabling started at Burn of Whilk recently with the Moy project due to commence in the coming weeks.
Burn of Whilk Wind Farm, located South of Wick is owned and operated by Eneco UK. The nine turbine wind farm has a generating capacity of 22.5MW.
The wind farm became fully operational in September 2015. It has the potential to generate the equivalent energy needs of 12,500 households annually.
Moy Wind Farm has 20 turbines and is also operated by Eneco UK.
