Nadara, believed to be the largest independent power producer of onshore wind in Europe, has announced the launch of what is believed to be the UK’s first Sustainable Decommissioning Strategy for wind power. It is to be applied at Beinn Ghlas Wind Farm in Argyll, Scotland, and is expected to set a new benchmark for environmental stewardship and socio-economic enhancement in the industry.
Developed in partnership with Reblade, the specialist wind turbine decommissioning service, the comprehensive strategy focuses on the circularity strategy, creating more sustainable supply chains and enhancing socio-economic benefits during the decommissioning process.
The new decommissioning strategy will form an important chapter in the Beinn Ghlas repowering planning application, exploring circular destinations for the decommissioned material that will be removed from the site. Beinn Ghlas began operations in May 1999 and is one of the oldest wind farms in the UK. The 25-year-old site comprises 14 Bonus (B44/600) wind turbines, providing an overall capacity of 8.4MW.
Nadara expects to submit an application for consent to replace the existing turbines with new, larger and more efficient turbines, substantially increasing the generating capacity of
Fiona Lindsay, the MD of Reblade, said: “As the first strategy of its kind in the UK, this initiative … highlights Nadara’s forward-thinking approach [and] serves as an inspiring model for others in the industry to follow. As the onshore wind industry begins decommissioning the first generation of wind farms at scale, it is essential that leading companies take a proactive and responsible approach to material handling at every stage. We … look forward to seeing this approach become more commonplace in our industry.”
