By Jon Hebditch
There was fresh disruption on a northern roads at the weekend as wind farm
bosses return massive – and incorrectly sized – turbine parts to Inverness.
Motorists using the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road experienced weeks of
delays as components of the Moray Dorenell Wind Farm were delivered.
But at the start of June it emerged that six huge parts would have to be
sent back as they will not connect into the ground.
Engineers discovered the huge base parts could not be attached to the
foundations that had already been set into the ground.
Yesterday a convoy left the Dorenell site at 8am, passing Keith, Forres and
Nairn before eventually making its way to Inverness by 1.15pm.
This was the first of “two or three” convoys according to a spokeswoman for
EDF energy.
The controversial wind farm development, run by EDF energy, attracted 640
objections when it was first proposed.
It also survived two court bids from drink giants William Grant and Sons,
who own Dufftown-based Glenfiddich, who had been desperate to see it blocked.
Work began on upgrading the roads in the rural Cabrach region nearly two
years ago in order to accommodate the convoy shipments.
EDF Renewables said last night that the issue had been discovered by
turbine manufacturers Vestas and that a solution had been developed to stop
the situation happening again.
A spokeswoman said: “Vestas has discovered an issue with the tower bases as
part of the works at Dorenell Windfarm being developed by EDF Renewables
and has already found a solution.
“Only six affected parts are at the Dorenell site already and will need to
be returned from site to Inverness port in two to three convoys.”
The spokesman said that the disruption to traffic caused by the additional
journeys was likely to be minor, in the context of the wider project.
The rest of the deliveries to the Dorenell site will continue as planned.
The spokesman added: “Vestas takes full responsibility for the issue and is
in close contact with EDF Renewables, working as quickly as possible to
keep any disruption to a minimum.”
Information on delivery times and dates can be had by emailing
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