How AIS Wind Energy Supports English Onshore Wind Farms
AIS Wind Energy has built an impressive reputation in the onshore wind energy industry across the UK and Europe by supporting the lifespan of wind farms – from construction and installation to operation, ongoing maintenance and their eventual decommissioning.
Working closely with wind energy providers for many years, we understand the commercial pressures they face and pride ourselves on offering the turnkey expertise and support needed to ensure reliable, efficient and safe wind energy generation.
No matter the scale of the project or its location in England, we have the expertise, resources, equipment and reach to help – delivering support tailored to wind farm operators’ individual needs.
Wind Turbine Installation
Now that the moratorium on new build onshore wind farms in England has ended, we expect to see a marked increase in the number of wind turbine installations in England. Primed to help, AIS Wind Energy offers a full onshore wind turbine installation service, which includes logistics support and specialist lifting provision.
As part of AIS Group, we offer unrivalled complex lifting expertise and can load and transport turbines from the factory directly to the site ahead of assembly and subsequent commissioning. Our full-service approach also includes ensuring all documentation and necessary permits are in place.
Installation services include:-
- Reviewing the brief to create a method statement.
- Carrying out all health and safety checks and risk assessments to ensure a safety-first project.
- Loading, transportation and on-site offloading of turbines.
- Lifting the wind turbine and all components into position.
- Fixing wind turbine components in place on site.
- Mechanical and electrical fit-out ahead of commissioning.
Wind Turbine Maintenance and Servicing
Scheduled maintenance and servicing are imperative to ensure wind farms run at peak performance. AIS Wind Energy works with English wind farm operators to understand their turbine and farms’ maintenance needs and devise and deliver scheduled maintenance programmes to minimise costly downtime.
AIS Wind Energy’s specialist service technicians are trained and certified to isolate turbines and deliver all required inspections, maintenance, and checks.
Our maintenance and servicing expertise includes:-
- Creation of a service schedule, complete with issued reminders so essential maintenance tasks are never missed.
- All planning and liaison with maintenance teams.
- Specialist isolation of turbines ahead of any maintenance work taking place.
- Completing maintenance tasks such as inspecting, lubricating, cleaning, and repairing blades, tower sections, couplings, gearboxes, generator blade bearings and main ring bearings.
- Delivery of vital checks and inspections.
Wind Turbine Decommissioning
AIS Wind Energy provides a complete decommissioning service across the whole of England.
The team considers various environmental, logistical and operational challenges when developing a project plan, including identifying resource and equipment needs, setting out project timescales and considering weather conditions and site access to ensure that turbines are decommissioned swiftly and safely.
Our experts disconnect electrics, remove components and dismantle turbines before lifting them onto transportation for redeployment, recycling or upgrading.
AIS Wind Energy’s decommissioning services include:-
- Creation of a complete method statement and all risk assessments and safety plans.
- Safe isolation and disconnection of turbines.
- Component removal.
- Lifting of the wind turbine from the tower.
- Loading and transportation to the turbine’s new owner, yard or scrap supplier.
Wind Turbine Component Replacement
Throughout an onshore wind turbine’s life, it may be necessary to carry out component replacements for wind turbine blades, gearboxes, generators, blade bearings and main ring bearings.
AIS Wind Energy supports English wind farm operators by retrofitting and replacing key components to prolong turbine lifespan, maximise efficiency and minimise costly breakdowns.
Our maintenance experts safely remove broken components before lifting and connecting new parts.
Component replacement services include:-
- Creation of a component replacement plan, method statement and risk assessment.
- Isolation of the electricity to ensure safe component replacement.
- Disconnection and removal of old parts
- Lifting and positioning on the new component
- Commissioning support via a variety of experts within our network.
Wind Turbine Commissioning
Following construction and before formal handover and power generation, wind turbines must be commissioned to ensure they have been installed correctly and to the highest standards.
AIS Wind Energy can manage the entire commissioning process for wind farm operators in the Republic of Ireland – proving that the turbines perform efficiently and meet the system’s specifications. By devising and delivering a bespoke commissioning programme and working to strict Wind Turbine Safety Rules (WTSRs), we help operators keep turbines turning, both safely and efficiently.
Wind turbine commissioning services include:-
- Creation of a complete method statement and risk assessment for the wind turbine commissioning project.
- Carrying out all health and safety checks, risk assessments and regulatory checks.
- Managing all necessary liaisons with suppliers and electrical contractors.
- Handover to the operations and maintenance team.
Why Choose Us?
AIS Wind Energy has installed, commissioned, maintained and decommissioned hundreds of wind turbines across the UK and Europe.
Well placed to support England’s onshore wind farm developments, AIS Wind Energy is committed to helping clients across the country as they increase wind energy output.
We are a safety-led business operating under strict Wind Turbine Safety Rules (WTSRs) and pride ourselves on a team focused on delivering all projects safely, efficiently and successfully.
As part of the AIS Group, we have vast experience in complex heavy lifting, a highly trained and capable in-house team, and all the vehicles and specialist lifting equipment required to provide safe and specialist support to wind farms of all sizes.
Contact Us
Get in touch with one of our experts for more information about our specialist onshore wind turbine services in England.
What Onshore Wind Farms are based in England?
Cambridgeshire
Red Tile is a 12-turbine wind farm located in Warboys, Cambridgeshire. It generates around 24 MW of electricity to power up to 14,000 homes. This particular farm also invests 20,000 annually in community initiatives.
Cheshire
Frodsham in Cheshire is home to one of England’s largest onshore generating stations and the largest in Cheshire. Frodsham Wind Farm comprises 19 turbines, powering over 32,000 homes and saving over 50,000 CO2 annually. It has an installed capacity of more than 50 MW.
Cornwall
Cornwall boasts one of the best wind resources in Europe and is in a prime position to progress the development of Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) on a large scale.
Wind farms include Bears Down, Four Burrows and the largest, Cold Northcott, which comprises 19 turbines and is operated by EDF Renewables.
County Durham
Developed by the Banks Group, the West Durham wind farm has a capacity of 24 MW with 12 turbines, each rated at 2MW. It was the first wind farm containing turbines supported on driven steel tubular piles.
Cumbria
Another 12-turbine wind farm, Kirkby Moor in Cumbria, generates enough power yearly to generate almost 4,000 homes. The wind farm has been operating since 1993, and in 2017, an application was made to extend its operation until 2027.
East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire has become a hotspot for wind energy, with the country boasting four wind farms. Goole Fields 1 is a 16-turbine wind farm with a total installed generating capacity of 32.8 MW and the capacity to meet the needs of up to 18,200 households each year. Its partner wind farm, Goole Fields 2, has a similar size and operating capacity.
Hall Farm and Lissett Airfield are also based in the region, and comprise 12 turbines each.
Kent
The Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm is 7 kilometres west of Lydd on Romney Marsh. It was built by Npower Renewables and cost approximately £50 million. The 26 wind turbines are distributed over an area of 4 km2 with a peak generation of 59.8 MW.
Lancashire
Lancashire is home to three wind farms – Coal Clough, Scout Moor, and Hyndburn – and the region has 62 turbines in total. Scout Moor is the largest, with 26 turbines, while Coal Clough is one of the UK’s oldest wind farms – built in 1992.
Lincolnshire
The 68-megawatt Keadby Wind Farm, owned by SSE Renewables and located in North Lincolnshire, is England’s largest onshore wind farm. Energy is generated by the farm’s 34 turbines, which have been operational since 2014. Working together, they can power approximately 57,000 homes.
The county is also home to Fen Farm and Bicker Fen, which collectively bring another 23 turbines to the region.
North Yorkshire
Rusholme wind farm is a 12-turbine wind farm near Drax, North Yorkshire. It generates 24 MW of energy annually, powering up to 14,500 homes and bringing £36,000 of annual investment into the community.
Northumberland
Green Rigg wind farm is an 18-turbine wind farm in Otterburn in Northumberland. With the capacity to power up to 21,000 homes annually, it generates 36 MW of power and over £36,000 of community investment annually.
South Yorkshire
The Royd Moor Wind Farm is located in Barnsley and has 13 450 kW turbines. The site is located approximately 6 kilometres northwest of Penistone, around 320 metres (1,050 ft) above sea level and generates enough energy to power 3,300 homes.
Very few new sites have been built in the UK recently due to the government’s 2015 ban on onshore wind farm development, which tightened planning restrictions in the national planning policy framework. Following the recent reversal of this decision, it is hoped there will be greater investment in onshore wind farms across the country.