Less than a year after breaking ground, the company installed the final onshore turbine at the 28MW site. The construction process, which began this summer, was completed on schedule, following the installation of the first turbine a few weeks prior.
SSE Renewables collaborated with Siemens Gamesa to safely install the eight SG 3.4-132 MW units at the wind farm. Commissioning and testing of the turbines will now commence, with the site expected to become fully operational by the end of 2024.
The Chaintrix-Bierges and Vélye project marks SSE's first onshore wind farm construction in France and its first project outside of its core UK and Ireland market.
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Delphine Henri, France Director of SSE Renewables, said: "We're truly delighted to be celebrating the safe, successful and on schedule completion of turbine installation at our Chaintrix-Bierges and Vélye wind farm project. This demonstrates the great progress we're making on the delivery of the project and we're on track to complete and enter generation operation by the end of the year.
"Successfully reaching this milestone is due to the excellent teamwork and collaboration from everyone involved in the project's delivery. Particular thanks go to turbine supplier Siemens Gamesa along with our lead contractor Omexom in partnership with Civils contractor Pothelet, as well as to other supply chain partners Vodafone, Dekra, Elys, Groupe Geotec, and Auddicé.
"We would also like to thank local residents, the elected representatives and the wider community for their support to our project team while we undertook construction at site. It is a real example of how we have successfully collaborated with the supply chain and with local stakeholders to help deliver what will be France's newest renewable energy site."
When complete, the Chaintrix-Bierges and Vélye wind farm will be capable of generating enough low-carbon energy over its expected 30-year lifetime to power over 14,000 homes annually.
Delivery of the wind farm represents a total capital investment of more than €30 million by SSE Renewables. This investment is supporting the local economy in the Grand-Est region, with around 80 construction roles supported at peak delivery.
