Narva Wind Farm Construction Underway
Construction of a 17-generator wind farm in Narva's Baltic Electricity Station has begun, with builders taking extra measures to secure the foundations of what they say are the only wind turbines in the world to be built on an ash field.
The wind farm can produce enough power for 35,000 families in the town of 65,000 residents, reported ETV. The turbines will be controlled from the headquarters of Enercon, 1,416 kilometers away in Aurich, Germany.
The Baltic Power Plant, which Narva relies on for its heating, produces millions of tons of ash annually from burning oil shale. One of the giant ash piles has been closed and is now the planned site of the wind farm.
When the project got underway, concerns were raised about the strength of the foundation. Though it seemed strong, builders weren't sure if the vibrating, 107-meter-tall windmills would stay steady on the ash field, according to project director Hannes Verlis.
The company decided to drill 22-meter stakes into the field's limestone base to fasten the generators.
Enercon has been building wind farms in Estonia for a decade.
Ott Tammik