Three new turbines being built on Krnovo Plateau – Gvozd Wind Farm reaching 75.6 MW

As the Gvozd 1 Wind Farm project nears completion, with work finished on the Gvozd-Niksic transmission line and preparations underway for its trial operation, foundations for three new wind turbines have been completed at the Gvozd 2 site. Access roads are currently being prepared, and upcoming work will focus on the turbine platforms and site preparation for the delivery and installation of the turbines.

The start of construction on Gvozd 2 was preceded by the fulfillment of various administrative, financial, and contractual obligations. In accordance with the amended corporate loan agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), valued at EUR 25.625 million and intended to finance the construction of Gvozd 2 and its supporting infrastructure, contract annexes were signed with previously selected contractors, as stated by Dusan Mijuskovic, the project’s lead civil engineer.

Procedures regarding bank guarantees and documentation required by FIDIC contracts have been completed, as have all obligations mandated by domestic regulations, according to the monthly publication of Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG).

Once the necessary conditions were met, construction work began on August 4. Initial activities involved cutting access roads and preparing the ground for the foundations of the three new wind turbines. Subsequently, excavation for the foundations began, and during August and September, the excavation, reinforcement, and concreting works for all three foundations were completed.

– At the same time, the installation of the 0–63 aggregate base layer on the access roads, spanning a total length of approximately 2,300 meters, was completed. The upcoming phase involves backfilling the foundations, expanding and surfacing the platforms with 0–63 and 0–32 aggregate materials, and installing the final 0–32 aggregate layer on the access roads – says Mijuskovic.

Contractors who participated in the construction of the project’s first phase have been engaged for the realization of the Gvozd 2 Wind Farm. Bemax is carrying out the civil engineering works, Ramel is responsible for the electrical works, and Nordex is in charge of the delivery, installation, and maintenance of the three new turbines. Mijuskovic believes that the experience gained during the construction of the Gvozd 1 Wind Farm will be a significant advantage as the project continues.

– It is the same team of contractors, so things might proceed even faster and more smoothly than they did for Gvozd 1. Lessons learned from the previous period have already resulted in faster and better progress. The project team has remained unchanged, and work progress is monitored through regular weekly meetings between team members and contractors – notes Mijuskovic.

Gvozd-Niksic transmission line works completed

One of the key components of the Gvozd 1 Wind Farm, the Gvozd-Niksic transmission line, is virtually complete. According to Dusan Bogetic, chief electrical engineer and member of the project team, the construction work on the transmission line has been completed.

– Due to procedures regarding the felling of state-owned forest, work on erecting transmission line towers 8 through 14 was slightly delayed. However, all towers are now in place, and the electrical installation work has been completed – says Bogetic.

With the completion of the reconstruction of the Niksic 110/35 kV substation and the construction of the Gvozd 110 kV bay, the transmission line has been connected to the Niksic 110/35 kV substation and is ready for trial operation.

– We are currently gathering the necessary documentation, which, along with the application for a trial operation permit, will be submitted to the electric power inspector – explains Bogetic.

– We also monitored the actual construction of the transmission line in the field. During our site visit, an Elnos Group team was installing the 10th tower. At a height of 34 meters, four technicians were assembling the top of the tower. Prior to that, one of them, lying on the steel structure, was receiving the cross-arm being lifted from the ground by a crane. Colleagues jokingly remarked: “That’s nothing, you should see him ride a bicycle between two towers” – reports the EPCG newsletter.

The terrain configuration posed the greatest challenge for the contractor. Civil engineer Mihajlo Velickovic explained the sequence of steps involved in erecting the towers.

– For each tower, we first had to secure an access road, prepare the site, perform excavation work, install reinforcement and formwork, and then pour the concrete foundations. After that, we installed the grounding system and erected the steel structure, followed by electrical installation work – says Velickovic.

Expected production 210 GWh

However, those challenging days are behind us. With the completion of the Gvozd-Niksic transmission line, the Gvozd 1 Wind Farm project is finished. EPCG notes that the project involved the construction, delivery, and connection of eight wind turbines, the construction of the Gvozd substation, the reconstruction of the Krnovo and Niksic substations and the construction of a transmission line nearly 15 kilometers long. This finalized the infrastructure required to reliably connect the Gvozd 1 wind farm to Montenegro’s power grid.

With the addition of three future wind turbines at the Gvozd 2 wind farm, the total installed capacity of the Gvozd wind farm complex will reach 75.6 MW, while expected annual electricity production will exceed 210 GWh.

This amount of green energy will be sufficient to supply more than 35,000 households.

Dragas visits Gvozd 2 Wind Farm construction site

On September 1, Zdravko Dragas, CEO of Elektroprivreda, accompanied by his associates, visited the construction site of the future Gvozd 2 wind farm on the Krnovo Plateau. He emphasized that the pace of work indicated the project was proceeding according to plan.

– I am satisfied with the pace of work and what I saw at the site. This is an important development project for EPCG, as well as for Montenegro’s energy future. Every new capacity we build using domestic renewable sources means greater energy security and reduced dependence on market fluctuations – Dragas said at the time.

Elektroprivreda Crne Gore

EPCG

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

EBRD

Gvozd 1 Wind Farm

Gvozd 2 Wind Farm

Dušan Mijušković

Dušan Bogetić

Mihajlo Veličković

Zdravko Dragaš

Gvozd Nikšić transmission line