Installation of Wind Turbines: Setting Up a Wind Farm
 Topic: building wind turbines |  Read Time: 7 mins |
 Landowner type:Independent landowners | Institutional landowners |  Energy: Onshore wind |
5th August 2024Are you trying to figure out how wind turbine installation works? Perhaps you’re a landowner wondering how long the process will take. Whatever the case, I’ll endeavour to answer your questions.
If you’re a landowner, the installation of wind turbines might be something that you’re interested in – whether that’s because you’ve signed an option agreement for a project or just are considering your options.
Understanding the process can demystify what’s involved in bringing a wind project to life on your land.
So, if you’re wondering what turbines are made of, how they’re constructed or how the process might impact your land, you’re in the right place.
Not only will I run you through the step-by-step construction process in simple terms, but I’ll also help you prepare for what to expect so you can move forward with confidence.
What Are Wind Turbines Made Of?
If you’re considering wind turbines on your land, you might be wondering what they’re actually made of.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, wind turbines are typically made of steel and fibreglass.
However, their moving parts are also constructed from resin or plastic, iron or cast iron, copper and aluminium.
The average turbine has several different components, but the main ones you’ll need to know about are:
- Tower
- Nacelle
- Rotor
- Blades
- Generator
- Shafts
- Controller
- Gearbox
Each of these components has a different function, but they all work in harmony to keep those blades turning.
- The nacelle generally keeps the operational parts of the turbine protected.
- The blades generate the aerodynamic force that’s harnessed into kinetic energy.
- The tower, along with the foundation of concrete and steel, supports the structure and holds the blades at an optimal height.
Installation of Wind Turbines: How Are They Built?
The installation of wind turbines starts with a detailed feasibility study.
This is where a developer will scope your land for suitability, soil structure, wind speeds and everything in between.
Once they’ve offered you an option agreement to hold the land and secured appropriate financing, the building process begins.
To simplify the entire process, I will split it into five easy-to-follow steps.
These are:
- Laying the foundations
- Constructing the tower
- Adding the nacelles
- Fixing the blades
- Testing and commissioning the turbines
And before any of this happens, your developer will need to secure planning permission and procure any commodities.
This includes cables, concrete, hard stands for the turbines, tower sections, blades and nacelles.
This process can take a considerable amount of time (before construction begins), which is worth bearing in mind.
Now that you’ve got a basic understanding of the process, let’s delve into these steps in more detail (and explore how they might affect you as a landowner).
1. Laying the foundations
Before any foundations are laid, you’ll see developers landscaping the area, digging roads and sorting appropriate tracks for vehicles.
These allow construction teams (and the developer) to easily access the site and deliver necessary materials.
Laying the foundations for a wind power project involves laying down an impressive amount of concrete.
This is typically between 600 and 1,000 tons.
Because it’s unlikely that you’ll have stockpiles of concrete and steel lying around, the construction team will move this onsite with large trucks.
Although the creation of access roads might temporarily impact your day-to-day activities, they’re generally designed to minimise land impact.
If you’re concerned about this part of the process, it’s best to check in with your developer.
They should be able to give you timescales for this process so you know what to expect.
Although the preparation phase can be lengthy, the construction process itself is relatively quick.
2. Constructing the tower
Average dimensions for a 3.5MW turbine:
- Weight: 167 tons
- Height: 86/116/135 meters
The first major piece of the tower that your developer and construction team will build is the tower.
Now, it’s no secret that a commercial wind turbine is tall (approximately 98 metres, to be precise).
And because of this height, the entire tower can’t be built in one go.
Instead, the developer and construction team will build it in parts with large cranes that pull materials up to the required heights.
Once the tower sections are in place, the team prepares for the installation of the nacelle—the component that houses key operational parts like the gearbox and generator.
It’s worth mentioning that the developer may need to delay this process if there are poor weather conditions or the turbine is particularly large.
But it usually takes just a few days for the towers, nacelle and blades to be installed.
3. Adding the nacelles
Average dimensions for a 3.5MW turbine:
- Weight: 163 tons
- Length: 18 metres
- Width: 4 metres
- Height: 7 metres
When the tower is securely in place, the next step is installing the nacelle.
This is the protective housing that hides all the operational components of the wind turbine, including the generator and gearbox.
You’ll also find the drive train, brake and low/high-speed shafts tucked inside the nacelle.
Essentially, the nacelle acts as a protective shell that protects the most important functional parts of the turbine.
4. Fixing the blades
Average dimensions for a 3.5MW turbine:
- Weight: 12 tons
- Length: 55 metres
The final stage of the construction process involves fixing the blades to the nacelle and rotor.
Smaller-scale turbines are usually manufactured with the blades pre-attached (although this isn’t always the case).
For larger-scale turbines, suppliers will deliver all parts separately and each part requires heavy cranes to fit.
The attachment process depends on the material:
- Aluminium blades – Constructed by bolting aluminium sheets together.
- Fibreglass blades – Created by layering a composite of fibreglass and resin onto blade moulds. This composite must harden for several hours before installation.
In either instance, construction teams will securely bolt and screw the blades onto the nacelle before placing them on the tower.
5. Testing and commissioning the turbines
Before the wind turbines are fully operational, the construction team must conduct important quality checks.
After successfully installing the turbines, the crew will test and commission the system to check that all components are working and the turbine is producing electrical power.
This part of the process is also when the crew will perform safety checks and set up maintenance plans with the project developer.
This is crucial for ensuring the regular ongoing management of the wind farm (and it ensures that your developer is abiding by industry standards).
An average maintenance schedule typically includes everything from periodic inspections and lubrication to cleaning the turbines.
There’s usually a focus on cleaning the rotor and blades.
There may even be software updates that need to happen to keep the technology up to date.
While these processes won’t necessarily impact you as a landowner, it’s worth noting that there will be maintenance workers regularly visiting the site to keep it in tip-top condition.
How Do Wind Turbines Work and How Is the Energy Produced?
Wind turbines work a bit like an enormous fan, with the turbine blades spinning to produce electricity.
This movement (powered by wind) causes the rotor to spin a generator.
This kinetic energy is what creates the electricity that site operators transfer to the Grid and sell.
The amount of electricity a turbine produces largely depends on how much wind turns the blades.
The faster the wind speeds, the faster the turbine blades can spin and create more kinetic energy.
How Long Does the Process Take?
The installation of wind turbines depends on their size and structure.
Non-commercial or generally smaller projects will have smaller parts, and these will be less complex to construct. Because this process requires fewer parts and less construction equipment, it tends to take less time from beginning to end.
But from my research, getting appropriate planning, laying foundations and constructing the turbines takes around three years and eight months (give or take).
This figure runs from the date a developer submitted a planning application to the date the project is operational. So, it’s almost four years in total.
But fear not.
With Labour’s removal of the de facto onshore wind ban in July 2024, obtaining planning permission should take far less time. For starters, this decision removes a lot of the local authority’s responsibility for allocating adequate sites for turbines. However, it also means that the local community can’t veto projects.
So, you’ll want to watch this space to see just how positive this step forward is for clean energy projects.
What Is the Impact on Landowners?
You might think that the installation of wind turbines would have a major impact on the surrounding land. But the construction of access roads tends to be the most intrusive part of the process.
The coming and going of vehicles, along with the presence of construction cranes, might feel bothersome.
However, since the foundation laying and turbine parts deliveries are relatively brief stages of the construction process, the overall impact on landowners is minimal.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the installation of wind turbines is surprisingly straightforward from a landowner’s perspective.
Although the building of access roads can be frustrating, the construction process is incredibly quick once the turbines arrive.
The rest of the process mainly involves waiting for planning permission and laying the foundations.
If you have any further questions about the installation of wind turbines, feel free to get in touch with the team at Lumify Energy.
Not only can we answer those burning questions, but we’ll even set you up for success over your long lease period.
From helping you to negotiate the best deal for your new wind farm project to the ongoing monitoring of your project, we’ll make sure you’re maximising the income that you receive for leasing your land.
FAQs
Clients often ask me about how much it costs to install a wind turbine and what goes into planning permission.
If you’re curious, I’ve rounded up a few frequently asked questions that might help you in the early stages of project planning.
How much does installing an average wind turbine cost?
The average commercial wind turbine can cost between £1 and 1.5 million per megawatt installed.
Do I need council approval for a wind turbine?
Getting planning permission is key for any wind turbine project, but it has previously been tricky to get.
However, with Labour removing the de facto ban on new wind farms in July 2024, the future looks far brighter.
How do you set up a wind farm?
Setting up a new wind farm can be a complicated process.
But if you’re planning to self-develop as a landowner, you’ll want to make sure you have adequate funding.
And if you’re working with a developer, carefully consider your payment arrangements and lease terms before agreeing to a project.
Oh, and make sure you know plenty about the developer you’re working with.
