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September 2020 Update

During the month of September, the Turbine Supplier has continued to endeavour to install wind turbines across the site, despite worsening weather conditions. Although wind is very useful in generating clean energy, it also proves troublesome when attempting to erect turbines. Wind and fog have dominated the weather outlook this month, which has slowed down these activities. Through the favourable weather windows, however, GE Ren have managed to complete Pre-Install 1 on all thirty-three (33) turbines, and Pre-Install 2 on thirty-two turbines (32). A further four (4) complete turbines were erected in the month of September, taking the total number to eight (8) for the site. Once the turbines have been erected, and all associated internal works have been completed, it is considered to have reached ‘Mechanical Completion’. Mechanical Completed has been reached in three (3) turbines during the month.

 

The tower sections for all thirty-three (33) turbines have now been delivered, which should substantially limit the traffic and strain on the nearby public roads. Also successfully delivered by the end of September were twenty (20) sets of nacelles, drivetrains, and hubs, and nineteen (19) blade sets. The remainder of the blade sets are scheduled to be delivered in October, which will conclude the delivery of escorted components; an important milestone as we head into winter.

 

From an electrical perspective, another important milestone was achieved in the successful energisation and testing of the Björkvattnet substation and the associated overhead lines. The energisation is when an electric current is introduced to the cables, in preparation for connecting to the turbine arrays and energy exportation.

 

 

 

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July-August 2020 Update

It has been a busy couple of months on the project with the civil contractor, SIC, having successfully handed over all 5 areas of the windfarm to GE Renewables. Coupled with the works completed by SIC in June 2020 this means that the whole windfarm site is now complete from a civil and electrical perspective and all areas are handed over to GE Renewables. Final works are ongoing at the site Substation, with the successful installation of steel supports and the continuation of installation of the overhead line, as teams prepare for the initial energisation of the site in mid-September.

 

The main focus of the site works in the period has concentrated on the turbine delivery and erection. To date there has been tower deliveries completed for twenty-four (24) full turbines, nine (9) sets of machine heads, drive train and hubs and thirteen (13) sets of blades. A series of cranes are in place, which carry out various functions such as component unloading, installation, and assembly support. The crane activities are separated into three distinct phases – Pre-Install 1, Pre-install 2 and Main installation. To date the Pre-install #1 crane has completed the first tower installation on twenty-seven (27) turbines. To date the Pre-install #2 crane has completed the next three tower section installation on twenty-four (24) turbines. There are three Main cranes operating on site which install the remaining tower sections (final three sections) and install the nacelle, hub and blades. On the 13th August 2020 a major milestone was achieved when installation was completed on the first turbine. By the end of August, four (4) complete turbines had been erected.

 

 

Drone shot of the completion of installation at the first turbine
Construction of structural steel at Substation
Construction of structural steel at Substation
Substation in a near finished state
Substation in a near finished state
Nacelle installation
Nacelle installation
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June 2020 Update

There has again been a lot of progress this month in the development of Björkvattnet Wind Farm, the most notable being the arrival of GE Renewable Energy, the turbine suppliers. GE Ren representatives first showed up at site at the beginning of the month, with their presence expected to grow until around mid-July, when up to 165 employees will be working on the project. On arrival, the employees are briefed on site Health & Safety and Environmental practices and have begun to cooperate with existing site contractors through daily coordinated meetings. The civil contractor, SIC, have successfully handed over 2/5 areas of the windfarm in time for GE Ren’s arrival. Works are ongoing at the site Substation, with the arrival of transformer components, and completion of cable laying into the building.

 

Turbine erection equipment and turbine components have started to arrive at site. A series of cranes are in place, which carry out various functions such as component unloading, installation, and assembly support. Turbine components which have started to arrive at site include switchgear and base tower sections. The switchgear is the connection point between the internal turbine cabling, and underground cabling which connects the turbine to the onsite substation. The base tower section is critical as this is the part of the turbine tower which is fixed to the turbine foundation through a series of large bolts and a cementing procedure known as ‘grouting’. The base tower section is also the access point into the turbine, for commissioning work and further maintenance. Currently, tower sections have been delivered to two turbine locations, in the South East area of the site. Deliveries of turbine components will continue for the month of July, with all Abnormal Loads arriving through the night (including tower sections, blades, nacelles, and hubs).

Drone shot of the cable routing into the substation building
Drone shot of the cable routing into the substation building
Crane arriving at site
Crane arriving at site
Pre-install cranes in position
Cranes in Operation at BJV11 & BJV14
Cranes in Operation at BJV11 & BJV14
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May 2020 Update – Component Deliveries

Works have been progressing well at the site this month, and vast snowmelt has made visible all the works completed to date. All 33 turbine foundations have now been cast, which is a huge milestone for the project. Cable laying continues in the north and south western areas of the site, with completion expected in the month of June.

 

Civil and electrical testing has been carried out this month in the south east area of the site, measuring road strength and electrical performance ahead of turbine component deliveries. The civils tests ensure that the turbines can be safely erected, and the electrical tests ensure that the turbines safely generate and export electricity.

 

Turbine component deliveries will commence in the week beginning 22/06/2020, with tower sections being the first to arrive. These tower section will arrive at the site from the west, passing through Borgvattnet, and all will occur during the night. Blade deliveries will begin a week later, arriving to site from the east, via Ramsele.

 

Please find here a link to the presentation on that topic.

 

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May Information Meeting. Update on project and schedule.

Due to restrictions on travel and public gatherings during the coronavirus disease outbreak, the BJV residents information meeting is cancelled.

 

We will reschedule it as soon as restrictions are lifted.

 

Please find here a short support presentation highlighting the project characteristics and schedule.

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[Covid-19] our on-site actions to protect our workers

Bjorkvattnet wind farm is working with its contractors to limit the potential spread of infection during construction in accordance with relevant Swedish Governmental guidance. The relevant measures will be updated as appropriate as the situation develops and guidance evolves.

Mitigation measures include, and are not limited to, requesting workers to stay at home when they are sick or present any symptom, wash hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based cleaning product, avoid touching face or eyes, covering nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing with a paper handkerchief that is disposed off appropriately, no public meetings and reducing travel to and from site to those that are essential for the construction of the project.

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They work for Björkvattnet wind farm

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They work for Björkvattnet wind farm

Local subcontractors have been hired for the Björkvattnet wind farm.

 

Main Contractors

Subcontractors

  • Affär´n i Borgvattnet: Grocery Store
  • Allkraft AB: Hall Builder
  • Aspåsnäsets Gräv AB: Contractor
  • AXSWE AB: Contractor
  • Bertil Fjellström Entreprenad AB: Contractor
  • Brunnsborrarna i Östersund AB: Well Drilling
  • Bröderna Edmo AB: Contractor
  • Bureau Veritas: Certification Agency
  • Christer Persson Maskin AB: Contractor
  • Classes Maskintransport AB: Contractor
  • Delphin Städservice: Cleaning company
  • EAG Rental AB: Rental Service
  • Ecogain: Environmental Policies Consultancy
  • Eddie Sethsson, E.S Entreprenad AB: Contractor
  • Hellbergs Entreprenad AB: Contractor
  • Hörnquist Elektriska AB: Electrician
  • JiPe Skog och Trä AB: Forestry Consultant
  • Lapplands Elnät i Jokkmokk AB: Cable works
  • Linje Montage: Substation Builder
  • Markentreprenader AB, MEAB: Contractor
  • MSE, Mats Sundelin Entreprenad AB: Contractor
  • N. Holmgren Entreprenad AB: Contractor
  • Ottossons Åkeri AB: Plant Hire/Supplier
  • P.Högström Heavy Equipment AB: Heavy Equipment
  • Ramsele Järnhandel AB: Hardware Store
  • Ramsele Konferens & Forskarcentrum: Conference & Research Center
  • Ramsele Rep & Mek AB: Workshop/Repair
  • Ramsele Skog & Gräv AB: Contractor
  • Ramsele Vulk & Maskin AB: Workshop
  • Roséns Mättservice AB: Surveying
  • SCA skog: Tree Felling Operations (Complete) Landowner
  • Själevadsbygg AB: Construction companies
  • Skelleftebränslen AB: Fuel supplier
  • Sköra Lyft & Transport AB: Contractor
  • Stens Bergborrning AB: Drilling & Blasting
  • Stiftelsen Arkiv & Kulturhus i Ramsele: Rental Room
  • Swerock AB: Concrete supplier
  • Terramover AB: Cable works
  • Tyréns AB: Geotechnical Engineer
  • Wallins i Hoting AB: Contractor
  • Åsens skog & Gräv AB: Contractor
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April 2020 Update

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April 2020 Update

Following a winter period predominated by road construction and cable laying, the wind farm road network can now fully accommodate construction traffic, much of which is now bounded by underground power and fibre optic cables. During the month of April, the focus has now shifted back to the turbine foundations, starting off in the Southern areas of the site.

 

On the excavated ground, a blinding layer has been applied to 15 foundations in April. This concrete blinding layer provides a flat, even surface on top of which the foundation will be constructed.

 

The steel-fixing teams returned to site this month to construct the steel reinforcement. This steel structure sits on top of the blinded layer and provides the concrete foundation with tensile strength which will ultimately support the wind turbine. The steelworks have been completed on seven (7) turbine foundations this month, with work ongoing on a further eight (8).

 

All foundations at Björkvattnet Wind Farm are gravity foundations. This means that the wind turbine is fixed solely on the weight of itself and the foundation it sits on. The bulk of this weight comes from the concrete. After the steel reinforcement works have been completed, a concrete mix, which is batched on-site, is then poured into the foundation pit. This mix fills the space between the steel reinforcement. Concrete pours have been carried out on two (2) foundations this month. The site now has fourteen (14) turbine foundations completed.

 

The concrete is then covered with the excavated earth and stone, which performs three functions: an aesthetic one by hiding concrete base, an environmental one by allowing further soil regeneration, and a practical function by adding extra weight to the foundation.

 

About 45% of the cable laying works have been completed at the site. These cables are laid in the trenches running, for the most part, along the side of the site tracks. These cables connect the wind turbines to the on-site substation for energy distribution, and fibre optic carry operational data to the operations building.

 

Works are progressing well at the substation building, with concrete poured into both transformer foundations. These foundations will support the transformers, which will increase the voltage of the power coming from the wind turbines to allow for efficient distribution to the grid network.

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[Covid-19] Planned information meeting is cancelled

Due to restrictions on travel and public gatherings during the coronavirus disease outbreak, the BJV residents information meeting is cancelled.

 

The meeting, planned to be held on the 13th of May 2020, is an opportunity for Ragunda residents and landowners to gather information about the Björkvatnett wind farm.

 

We will reschedule it as soon as restrictions are lifted.