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Community Wind Turbine Photo Diary

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Introduction

This diary documents the construction process of the Dulas Valley Community Wind Partnership (DVCWP) wind turbine: the first community managed wind turbine in Wales. CAT’s relationship with the development and use of wind-generated electricity is long-standing. Now that wind power has been proved as a viable and desirable means of generating 'clean' electricity, the challenge is to up the installation rate and get community support for local wind projects.

CAT is again at the forefront of the wind-power movement in encouraging and supporting community initiated and managed wind projects. Such small-scale schemes bring economic benefits to local populations, increase the transparency of electricity supply and consumption and engender a sense of collective ownership within communities.

The DVCWP will own and manage the Vestas 17 (V17) turbine, now under construction, its members receiving share dividends from the sale of electricity and having a say in major decisions. CAT has guaranteed to purchase the DVCWP electricity with any surplus being sold on to the local network. With an expected return on investment of 8.5%, the project is set to be an environmental and economic success for its local supporters.

The turbine is now in place atop Mynydd Llwyn-gwern on Forestry Commission land, and is awaiting connection to the grid before it can start generating. Being a second hand turbine, the V17 has already offset the energy used in its manufacture and installation so will be generating 100% clean electricity from the moment the blades begin to turn.

Wind turbine and windfarm information

Click on the thumbnail to see the full image

	Digging the Road 17/04/2002 A lot of work is involved in preparing the site for the turbine and for the necessary plant vehicles required in the construction of the foundations. Here, the site access track is being widened and made sure with hardcore, excavated from the foundation pit.
	Looking up to the site 17/04/2002 The site is viewed here from the bridleway which runs past the site to the north west. At this early stage of construction very little can be seen from below. DVCWP carried out a full Environmental Assessment for this site which considered, amongst other factors, the visual impact of the turbine on the surrounding area.
	Foundation Pit 18/04/2002 CAT Engineer, Clive Newman, measures the newly dug foundation pit which must be dug to measure 6m by 6m and 2m. Beneath the clay topsoil the excavator must remove mostly slate which will then be used to firm up the area surrounding the pit.
	Looking north across the site 08/05/2002 Three weeks later and the foundations are really starting to take shape. The pit has been dug to size and the surrounding ground levelled and shored-up. A steel lattice is under construction which will play a vital role in strengthening the foundations.
	Reinforced steel foundation grid 08/05/2002 The lattice has been built on top of an initial layer of pre-foundation concrete. This steel structure will reinforce the concrete foundations meaning that less concrete need be used overall. The top of the steel column, seen here in the centre, will eventually be at ground level.
	Filling In the Gaps 08/05/2002 Final preparations are made prior to the arrival of the ready-mixed concrete. Here breeze-blocks are used to fill in spare capacity.
	Concrete Pouring 08/05/2002 The concrete pouring begins. 8 truck loads of locally sourced ready mixed concrete are required to fill the lattice base
	Concrete Proofing 10/05/2002 Wooden shuttering is put in place around the side walls of the pit in order to contain the concrete. Here CAT Engineering Volunteer, Katie Brown, is painting the shuttering with concrete proofing so that the wooden boards can be easily removed once the concrete has set.
	The Right Conditions 10/05/2002 The glorious weather makes the whole process a lot simpler but the concrete must still be tested during pouring to check its strength and consistency.
	Poking 10/05/2002 With the large mass of concrete it is necessary to use a poking machine which ensures that the concrete is spread evenly and does not contain air pockets that could weaken its structure. Here Elwyn Pugh is poking the concrete.

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