Following the client’s approach some four years ago Smith & Garratt investigated a variety of options for generating renewable power. The controlling factor, as is often the case, was the cost of a grid connection. This farm’s transformer is at the end of a spur. Grid reinforcement was prohibitively expensive, as was the infrastructure to connect to the next line over. “Once we realised we could connect 100 kW of generating capacity for less than £1,000 we focused on the most cost-effective means of generating 100 kW”, said project manager Hugh Garratt; “and we recommended a wind turbine rather than a PV array because this farm has more hours of wind than sunshine.”

Working with Maden Eco in Berwick-upon-Tweed options were whittled down to arrive at the NP100, an American turbine by Northern Power. It has been erected by Maden and NP’s UK agents, Cornwall-based Capture Energy. The civils were installed by local groundworks contractors B & K Hume of Greenlaw.

Planning took over two years. “We were careful to select a well-screened site, off the skyline and away from obvious ecology hotspots such as the moor behind and the irrigation reservoir to the side”, Hugh explains, “Nonetheless we were asked to produce an Environmental Impact Assessment”. In the end the application was approved unanimously by Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee and members took the trouble to congratulate Smith & Garratt on the quality of approach.

Power from this turbine will supply up to half the farm’s annual needs, with the excess exported to the grid for green supplier Good Energy. It is expected to payback in seven years, with an internal rate of return above 22%.

Smith & Garratt managed all aspects of the project from planning, procurement and erection to connection. The turbine was successfully erected in mid-May and will be fully operational in June.