The turnkey contract to construct the wind farm was awarded to REpower UK - a joint venture between wind turbine company REpower Systems AG and specialist engineering company Peter Brotherhood Ltd.

In addition to the installation and commissioning of the wind turbines, REpower UK was also responsible for providing the necessary civil and electrical infrastructure, as well as a five-year warranty, operation and maintenance package.

To deliver the contract, REpower UK subcontracted McNicholas Construction Services Ltd to undertake the civil and electrical works on site.

npower renewables was responsible for providing a grid connection and access to the site, in conjunction with Western Power Distribution and Forestry Commission Wales respectively.

Wind turbines

The wind turbines installed at Ffynnon Oer are REpower MM70 2 megawatt turbines, which comprise a 58 metre (m) tower with a 70 m rotor diameter.

Construction diary

The approximate timeline for the different components of construction was as follows:

• Access track from public highway to site entrance
  May 2005 - June 2005



• On-site access tracks
  June 2005 - November 2005



• Substation
  September 2005 - March 2006



• Wind turbine foundations
  October 2005 - April 2006



• Wind turbines
  November 2005 - April 2006



• Underground cabling
  December 2005 - April 2006



• Grid connection energised
  March 2006



• First power generation
  May 2006



• Commissioning of wind turbines
  May 2006 - June 2006

Contractors prepare to fill one of the turbine foundations

Preparing a wind turbine's "in-tower" electrical components

Attaching the blades to the first wind turbine to be installed on site

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