100 m met mast for ‘subsidy-free’ Scottish wind farm

Renewable energy consultancy Dulas has completed the installation of its tallest ever meteorological (met) mast, in western Scotland. The 100 m guyed lattice mast, installed on behalf of wind farm developer Force 9 Energy, will provide measurement data for a major post-subsidy project in the southwest of Scotland.

At the remote project site in West Argyll, the need to measure resource at heights up to 100 m dictated the choice of a lattice rather than tilt-up tubular mast, says Dulas. The site itself was constrained by nearby forest, deep bogs and steep slopes, while challenging ground conditions consisting of deep peat and bedrock added a further layer of complexity to the installation.

However, Dulas technicians successfully installed mast anchors before completing the installation in stages to allow for periods of adverse weather. In addition to supplying the mast and instrumentation, Dulas designed and installed aviation lighting and a satellite communication system that facilitates easy data collection, as well as a bespoke solar PV battery system to meet the mast’s power requirements.

While the removal of government support for onshore wind has led to a severe slowdown in new onshore wind site development, the publication of the Scottish government’s own Energy Strategy – which aims to generate 50% of all energy demand from renewables by 2030 – and Onshore Wind Policy Statements has given renewed hope for a post-subsidy resurgence in the sector, says Dulas. As a result, a number of developers are engaging in early-stage site prospecting and resource assessment activity, and the company has seen increased demand for its mast services.