Kype Muir Wind Farm extension on track to be operational by the end of the year

The Banks Group has a long and successful track record of building long-term partnerships with Natural Power Kype Muir Extension

The Banks Group has a long and successful track record of building long-term partnerships with businesses to deliver successful projects with considerable economic, social and environmental benefits for the communities hosting our developments. To achieve this, we work in close collaboration with our business partners including Natural Power at Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension, which is currently under construction.

The extension, which is set for completion later this year, will add 15 turbines to the established Kype Muir site. Together, with the original turbines, the wind farm will have a joint installed capacity of 155MW, that’s enough to meet the annual electricity needs of around 112,000 homes – or a city larger than Aberdeen.

As the wind farm moves into its final phase of construction, we spoke to site engineer Garry Hession of Natural Power Consultants. Garry has been contracted on Kype Muir and Harting Rig wind farms since 2017 and has been a resident engineer with Natural Power since 2008.

Garry explains his role “I’m proud to say that I’ve worked on both Kype Muir and Harting Rig wind farms since the start. It’s my job to act as the client representative acting as the interface between Banks, their chosen balance of plant contractor and turbine supplier.

I’m responsible for managing civil works during the fifteen-month construction period for Kype Muir Extension. This vital part of the construction process includes preparing for the delivery of the turbine components to ensure that when they arrive on-site they can be transported to get to their destination safely, on time and with careful consideration for nearby communities.

To prepare for the arrival of the turbine components I oversee the installation of the site tracks, ensuring they are in line with the design plans as well as the requirements of the turbine supplier. Essential tasks include producing progress and tracking reports and signing off the civil and electrical works to ensure that all aspects of the project comply with the agreed design, health and safety and environmental standards of the project.

Other areas I manage include the correct installation of the crane hardstands, which allow the safe installation of the turbine blades, pouring of the turbine foundations, communications with the control building and site cabling, which includes connection to the substation to deliver clean green electricity to the UK grid.”

On the relationship with Banks Garry added: “I’ve worked in partnership with Banks for many years at Kype and I can wholeheartedly say they are the best client I’ve ever worked for. Working together we support each other to deliver ethically led and sustainable projects. I find the lines of communication with the team at Banks are always open, and transparent which has led to a highly successful partnership throughout the lifetime of this project.

The team at Banks is extremely supportive and I certainly find there’s always help available if needed.Collaborative projects with Banks have always been very successful.”

When asked about the best part of his job Garry explained: “The biggest sense of achievement for me is when the turbines arrive on-site. That’s when I feel the greatest sense of satisfaction as we know we’ve achieved our goal. Once the components arrive it proves that the access infrastructure works, then it’s just a case of day-to-day running and building the site before it’s passed back to Banks Group.”