Ripley Comes to Life
With most turbines in place, two power substations and the 27-km transmission line, the Ripley wind power project's first electricity will come online at the end of October 2007.
The complete project will include 38 2-MW Enercon wind turbines with the capacity to generate enough zero-emission electricity to power 24,000 homes, offsetting approximately 66,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide production annually.
Site preparation began in late 2006, and full-scale construction began in January 2007. The project is on track for completion by the end of the year. The remaining turbines are being transported from Germany via Toronto Harbour, final machine erection has ramped up and commissioning plans are on track. Power is transmitted from the wind farm collector system to the 230-kV lines from the Bruce nuclear plant by a 27-km, 69-kV transmission line.
The project involved fast-track implementation of innovative solutions, and coordination among an integrated team of owners, suppliers and contractors. About 250 people have been involved in construction of the project, which is owned by Suncor Energy and Acciona Wind Power Canada, who also jointly own and operate the 30-MW Magrath and Chin Chute wind power projects in which Hatch Energy was involved.
Hatch Energy provided project management services and acted as Owner’s Engineer. Work scope involved:
- geotechnical investigations and advanced testing using our in-house geotechnical laboratory
- specialized foundation and electrical engineering
- construction management
- integrated team approach to site safety, project management and engineering.
During construction, Hatch Energy worked with K-Line, the balance-of-plant contractor, to solve the inevitable challenges that occur during any project, including an unusual initial assignment to detect, locate and make safe site areas containing practice ordnance from World War II training exercises. Ordnance removal work was handled by Notra of Ottawa.
The turbines, supplied by leading German manufacturer Enercon, are the first such installment in Ontario and have a number of special features including a gearless direct-drive system – resulting in fewer rotating components, reducing mechanical stress and increased service life. As well, a special storm-control system prevents frequent shutdowns in extremely high winds. Hatch Energy provided Enercon with geotechnical data and analyses required for foundation design and installation, and then reviewed and approved all final designs. Civil foundation work for the wind turbines and two power substations was carried out by Rankin Construction.
The Ripley project required more than 100 permits and approvals from all levels of government – municipal, provincial and federal – as well as concurrence with conservation initiatives for nearby sensitive areas and watercourses. The team's experience in these areas played a crucial role in the project's success.
Hatch Energy provides all services in-house for wind development: wind resource assessment; geotechnical and civil engineering; electrical and interconnection engineering; environmental assessments and permitting; turbine evaluation and selection; total project and construction management; and due diligence assessment.
As a result of involvement in more than 3,000 MW of wind power projects worldwide, Hatch Energy is one of the few firms in North America with experience in all aspects of the wind industry.
For further information, please contact:
 Ivor Shaw
Project Manager
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
+1 905 374 5200
IShaw@hatchenergy.com
 Rick Donnelly
Director, Water and Wind Power
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
+1 905 374 5200
RDonnelly@hatchenergy.com
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