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Work to start next month on Gordonbush 11-turbine extension - firms invited to bid for contracts


By Staff Reporter

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Scotland’s newest onshore wind farm will be built subsidy free after the company confirmed an 11-turbine, 47MW extension to its existing Gordonbush wind farm.
Scotland’s newest onshore wind farm will be built subsidy free after the company confirmed an 11-turbine, 47MW extension to its existing Gordonbush wind farm.

FIRMS in the north Highlands are being encouraged to bid for work at a new wind farm project near Brora.

SSE Renewables has confirmed an 11-turbine extension to the existing 35-turbine Gordonbush wind farm, with work due to start in March using some of the infrastructure and the grid connection of the original facility.

The developer wants local companies to bid for contracts for the Gordonbush extension project and is to work with the Highlands and Islands Open4Business platform and host "meet the buyer" events for the local supply chain to help make the most of the opportunities available for local businesses.

Sandra McCaughey, programme manager of Open4Business, said: “It’s great news that SSE Renewables will be beginning construction on Gordonbush extension shortly. Open4Business has a strong track record of bringing opportunities on wind farm projects like Gordonbush extension to local companies.

“These contracts can range from catering and cleaning to civil construction and we would encourage any businesses in the area with an interest in finding out more about how they can be involved in the project to register on our Open4Business Highlands website.”

The developer has appointed RJ McLeod, one of Scotland’s largest privately owned civil engineering and building contractors, as the preferred principal contractor of the civil and cabling works.

Jim Smith, managing director of SSE Renewables, said: "It has been almost two years since we last completed construction on an onshore wind farm so we’re really looking forward to putting the first spade in the ground on Gordonbush extension.

“Onshore wind is the cheapest form of low-carbon generation. It brings jobs and investment to rural communities. Yet, despite the climate emergency, onshore wind construction is at the lowest it has been in a decade.

“It’s great to be able to start building again through this extension, but we urge government to do more to support this technology so net zero targets can be achieved.”

SSE Renewables has been part of the Sutherland community for almost a decade since the development and operation of the original Gordonbush wind farm, completed in 2012.


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