Construction of the onshore works to support the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm took a purposefully slow step forward this weekend with the delivery of a massive “shunt reactor” to the site of the wind farm’s connection to the National Grid in the Lammermuir Hills. A second shunt reactor is due for delivery next weekend.
The 160-tonne shunt reactor (10 metres long, 3 metres wide, 5 metres high) is a vital piece of equipment that provides voltage control and compensates for the length of the onshore and offshore cables that will deliver up to 450 megawatts of green electricity from the NnG wind farm in the outer Forth Estuary to its onshore substation at the existing Crystal Rig onshore wind farm. The substation is planned for completion next year and is a vital component in the wind farm, which is being developed by EDF Renewables (UK) and ESB.
The shunt reactor was transported, under police escort, to the NnG onshore substation near Innerwick, East Lothian, from the Port of Leith on a special 67m long trailer overnight Friday into Saturday. It was then transferred onto a 45m long trailer capable of negotiating the narrower road up to Crystal Rig.
Project Director Matt Haag said: “The shunt reactor is vital to enable NnG’s safe connection to the National Grid. We’re grateful to all our neighbours in Innerwick and the surrounding area for their patience as we ensured its safe passage to the substation.”
Photos: Peter Devlin