Wind Turbine, B&Q Warehouse
CASE STUDY: Renewable Energy Solutions
Breaking into the existing 11kV ring cable system and connecting the turbine via a new substation.
| Client(s) | Ecotricity |
|---|---|
| Location | Retford Road, Worksop, Notts |
| Project Start Date | November 2007 |
| Project Completion Date | January 2008 |
As part of their ‘Merchant Wind’ offering, Ecotricity have installed a single 2MWe Enercon E82 turbine at the rear of the B & Q site in Worksop. This is B & Q’s largest warehouse in Europe and will now run entirely on green energy from this new turbine (at full output capacity).
Electrically this has been connected to the existing B & Q private 11kV network. Studies determined that this network was substantial enough to support the output of the turbine. It was therefore a case of breaking into the existing 11kV ring cable system and connecting the turbine via a new substation. Any excess generating capacity will be exported into the National Grid, via the local Manton Primary Substation.
This is B & Q’s largest warehouse in Europe and will now run entirely on green energy from this new turbine (at full output capacity).
This substation was a first for Freedom with a new design of switchgear installed into a single 5 x 4M GRP enclosure. The design makes use of ‘off the shelf’ 11kV switchgear and a specifically designed protection panel. This can therefore be delivered in very quick timescales (10 to 12 weeks) and at a fraction of the cost of traditional extensible switchgear. Therefore commissioning takes around half the time of this traditional offering.
Some diversion works were required to accommodate the turbine base. These were carried out in a timely manner and the scheme went entirely to the customers programme. Freedom Project Manager, Joe Hulyer said ‘This was an interesting and satisfying project. It all went to plan, which is a good feeling when it is a new design. I look forward to building more like these in the future.’
Simon Vince, Head of Projects & Operations, said “It is through continued works with Freedom and their abilities to meet and satisfy all aspects of the electrical works on our projects, that we are happy to ensure they are our preferred electrical contractors on this and future schemes”.
