HARVESTING-WINDFARM‍‍

The drive for Renewable Energy has gathered pace in the UK as energy policies focus on decarbonising energy production with a move away from fossil fuels. Wind power has and will continue to play a large part in this evolving energy supply.  UK commercial forestry has frequently been established on upland, marginal land that is often deemed highly suitable for wind generation.  Many forests have been repurposed with renewable energy now part of a varied land use.

‍

Many large- and small-scale onshore windfarms are located entirely within, or adjacent to, commercial woodlands of some description. Turbine efficiency and subsequent electrical generation relies on a smooth and un-interrupted wind flow. Trees naturally interrupt these wind flow patterns and therefore many windfarm projects rely on pre-construction felling programmes designed specifically to improve wind yield and efficiency.

‍

Euroforest have become industry leaders in providing an advisory and harvesting service to landowners, their agents and construction developers. We can offer consultation from a harvesting perspective, undertake site investigation works, and carry out full site clearance, working within the tight time constraints normally associated with wind farm development.  We can utilise a range of harvesting techniques using our diverse range of machinery.  These include excavator-based snips for wet ground and site clearance with standard harvester forwarder work and brash/biomass removal.  

Euroforest work with a number of specialist contractors, sourced local to the site where possible, who can undertake a varied range of harvesting operations. Timber is always marketed at best value and to a range of local customers ensuring rapid placement to the market minimising disruption on site.

‍

Projects of this nature generally involve intensive onsite management and supervision, which we can resource accordingly to suit all needs, drawing on a wealth of inhouse knowledge and experience with managers who have been involved in windfarm projects for over a decade. Euroforest managers are used to working within these environments, complying with CDM (Construction Design & Management) regulations along with managing multiple stakeholder windfarm interests.  This is something Euroforest are highly experienced in delivering in a safe and efficient manner.

‍

Euroforest have a dedicated compliance team made up of three full time compliance officers who support all staff and have proven invaluable in the past when producing complex risk assessments and method statements involved in wind farm development.  We are accredited through the ISO standards 14001 Environmental Management Systems and 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management systems, demonstrating our capability to work to the highest standards.

‍

Below shows examples of some of our recent Windfarm projects.