A GIANT turbine blade bound for the Sanquhar II Wind Farm has travelled through New Cumnock this morning.
The oversized load departed the transfer area at around 9.30am on Monday, June 15 before making its way through the town along the A76 towards Kirkconnel.
The convoy will then turn onto the C125n and continue to the wind farm site entrance.
Motorists are being advised to expect delays while the specialist transport operation is under way.
The delivery forms part of the construction of the 44-turbine Sanquhar II Wind Farm, a major renewable energy development spanning parts of East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.
Each turbine will have a tip height of around 200 metres, with blades measuring approximately 75 metres in length.
Due to their size, the blades are transported using specialist blade lifter technology, which allows them to be raised and rotated to navigate challenging bends and changes in elevation.
Last week, two more blades made their way to the site, with renewables firm CWP Energy claiming it was the first time that such a journey had been completed using two vehicles with the blade lifter technology - supplied by Collett & Sons - at the same time.
CWP said the first blades taken to the Sanqhuar site had been delivered "safely and efficiently" on Wednesday along the approved route.
It described the transportation of two blades in convoy as a "significant achievement for the project and the wider renewable energy sector".
Chief operations officer Stuart Walker said it was an "important milestone" for the project.
"Delivering two blades simultaneously using blade lifters represents a significant logistical achievement and showcases the innovation being applied across the wind industry to safely transport increasingly large turbine components," he said.
Ahmad El Khatib, project manager from Vestas, who are supplying the turbines for the site, said it was a "source of genuine pride".
"This operation has been the subject of extensive discussion, preparation, and alignment with multiple stakeholders for more than a year," he added.
Paul Worth, senior project manager with Collett & Sons, said seeing both lifters in operation was a "significant achievement for everyone involved".
When completed, Sanquhar II is expected to become the UK's fourth-largest onshore wind farm and generate enough electricity to power around 335,000 homes.
Share