Clyde Windfarm Offices and Substations, Scottish Southern Energy
Airtricity – a subsidiary of the Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) group – were granted consent by the Scottish Government to construct 152 turbines in the Upper Clyde Valley, making the Clyde Windfarm Europe’s largest onshore wind farm at the time of construction and an integral part of the government’s overall initiative to source 20% of UK’s energy from renewables by 2020.
The McLennan Partnership was approached by Airtricity (now SSE Renewables) to lead the design of two large Substation buildings and a 1900m² Operations Centre.
Nestled in the Lowther Hills, the Substations are essential in the export of electricity from the turbines to the National Grid and were completed ready for the commissioning of the turbines.
Adjacent to the M74 motorway, the Operations Centre is a large staff and storage facility for the client.
Unsurprisingly the electricity for these buildings is renewably sourced from the adjacent turbines. In addition to this, the Operations Centre utilises Ground Source Heat Pumps helping it achieve a “Very Good” BREEAM Rating and has proved extremely energy efficient to run.
Works included:
- Full Feasibility and Concept Design
- Architectural Design
- Space Planning
- Statutory and Listed Building Consents
Due in part to the semi-woodland setting of the Operations Building the buildings, the cladding (green for wall cladding and light grey for the roof) colours were selected to blend in with there surroundings and on completion the planning officer commented how pleased they were with he resulting finish and how this sat well within the existing landscape setting.
