Access Engineering assigned for civil works of 100MW Mannar island wind farm project

Sri Lanka boosted its national electrification from 29% in 1990 to more than 99% in 2016. Yet the power sector continues to struggle in order to meet the growing demand for an affordable and reliable electricity supply.

With the share of thermal (coal and oil-fired) power still accounting for two-thirds of power generation in 2016, there is an urgent need to develop clean energy sources such as wind and solar energy in order to reduce the losses in the system and thereby to boost energy efficiency. While the remaining third of total generated power in 2016 was from renewable sources, most of this was accounted for by large hydropower facilities. Only about 8% comes from nonconventional renewable energy sources such as mini hydro, wind, solar, and biomass. 

With a national goal to increase the share of the nonconventional energy in Sri Lanka by about 20% of the total generated power by 2020, Ceylon Electricity Board initiated the construction and operation of a semi-dispatchable wind farm of 100MW capacity along with the financial assistance of ADB funding. 

Launched as the first phase of harnessing the wing electric potential in the Mannar region, this electrical power generating project of 375 MW capacity will be developed under four phases. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the project was awarded to Vestas Wind Systems A/S; a Danish manufacturer, seller, installer, and servicer of wind turbines. Vestas is to provide the delivery, installation and commissioning of 30 V126-3.45 Mw wind turbines as well as civil and electrical works. 

And the civil works of the plant is subcontracted to Access Engineering PLC by Vestas and the scope of the project includes dilapidation survey and geo-technical investigations, architectural and structural design of buildings, roads and tower foundation, pilling, construction of foundation for wind turbines, installation of medium voltage cables, design, supply and installation of optical fibre cables, CCTV and intercom systems, road infrastructure works, etc. 

The construction works of the project is to commence in early 2019 and is expected to be completed by late 2020.