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Wind Farm Infrastructure Depending on the location, the subsurface conditions at every site are unique and directly impact the design and construction of the wind farm. Since wind farms are being planned and developed in some of the more remote and rugged regions in Canada, special care must be taken to address the particular site conditions present. As well, once in place, most wind farms in Canada are not in places with easy access by repair teams in the case of a mechanical failure or other down period. This situation requires the careful selection of appropriate and durable materials that are proven wind-power technologies.  Wind farm civil infrastructure includes permanent and temporary access roads, temporary crane walk paths, erection crane pads, turbine foundations and public road improvements. Access Roads Wind farm access roads are permanent roads used during construction for the transport of equipment and material, and thereafter for operation and maintenance vehicle access. Although use of the access road during construction is temporary, the road must be designed for the extreme loads and turning requirements of the transporter trucks delivering materials and equipment to the site.  Turbine Foundations Various foundation types can be used for turbine support. In Canada, these types include gravity/spread, drilled shaft and deep pile. The specific foundation type is selected based on a number of factors, including soil conditions, depth of bedrock, bedrock conditions, soil and rock properties, and economics. Paths and Pads Crane walk paths are temporary routes for the main lift or erection crane, typically of the 500–600 ton class. This crane must travel from one turbine location to another for erection. Breaking down a crane and rebuilding it at another turbine location would be very expensive. It is more cost effective to construct an improved path for the fully erect crane for transportation between wind turbines.  |
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