Giant Offshore Turbine to be Blown Up

Ireland-based SSE Renewables, a renewable energy subsidiary of Airtricity, is set to conclude decommissioning of the Hunterston National Offshore Wind Turbine Testing Facility (NOWTTF) by blowing up in a controlled explosion.

The 177m-high (580ft) turbine had been used as a test site for offshore wind farms such as the massive Beatrice field in the Outer Moray Firth. The other turbine on the Hunterston site was dismantled by a crane last year.

"The turbine is scheduled to be brought down by controlled explosion on Thursday 19 September subject to suitable weather conditions," SSE  said.

The original intention was to dismantle the components of the Siemens turbine by crane. However, a suitable method of safely dismantling the turbine by crane could not be established. As a result, controlled felling has been identified the only feasible method for decommissioning the Siemens machine.

The National Offshore Wind Turbine Test facility at Hunterston was established in 2012.

Hunterston’s unique offshore-like wind resource, coupled with its existing grid connection, made it the ideal site for testing new offshore turbine technology on land, SSE Renewables said.

After successfully concluding its intended role, the site will be handed back to landowner Peel Ports following the decommissioning.