The vast majority of our projects have been of a farm-scale, dealing directly with farmers or landowners and providing a very strong understanding of the client’s needs. Approximately 90% of the successful planning applications Green Cat Renewables has gained planning consent for, has been at a local level, where a strong case can be made for the diversification of a local farm or business that results in direct and sustainable benefits to the local economy.
Furthermore, where Green Cat Renewables is involved in the construction of a project, local contractors are preferred where possible, which helps to control project costs, a working relationship can be built on trust, and the local economy benefits further.
Our experienced project managers are highly aware of the current market conditions and approach all new projects with this in mind. This is particularly important when working within a fast-paced and continually evolving industry. We understand the need to be as cost efficient as possible applying only the level of detail required to achieve the desired outcome.
Further, by dealing with the high risk items and potential ‘show-stoppers’ at the front end of the project, unnecessary ‘at risk’ expenditure can be avoided.
Green Cat Renewables (GCR) first started work on this project in 2007. Problems during planning meant that it was only consented on appeal in 2012. Even after consent was granted the grid connection was prohibitively expensive, however another wind project was consented nearby and we were able to negotiate a joint grid connection and hence bring the price down to an affordable level.
Whilst the principal of the shared connection should have led to savings of ~£2M on the original quote, in practice the shared connection brought significant additional problems and costs. It was deemed necessary to seek a planning consent for the ICP works, this was relatively straightforward and was granted in 2015. However, an objector to the nearby project raised a Judicial Review action against the consent as a way of trying to prevent both projects proceeding. This action and the subsequent appeal delayed the projects for 18 months. The shared grid also caused issues with the finance as the lenders for both projects struggled to get comfortable with a situation where neither project was in overall control.
Working with the neighbouring project we were able to devise a mechanism whereby both projects deposited their share of the ICP moneys in an ESCROW account that was managed independently and with a control protocol that meant neither developer could detrimentally affect the other’s project. The lenders were comfortable with this arrangement.
The shared grid infrastructure had a side benefit that as neither project was a sole asset user, the DUoS charges were significantly reduced.
Working in-house and coordinating with known specialists, our engineers and environmental team have experience of working to very tight planning, accreditation and installation deadlines.
The renewable energy industry is driven by working within tight timescales. Our experience allows us to undertake work as cost and time efficiently as possible, delivering the necessities in order to meet the requirements of approaching deadlines.
All renewable projects come with their own particular set of challenges such as grid, finance, stakeholders, buildability, noise, resource and environmental issues. Green Cat Renewables has built a breadth of experience over the last 13 years across a vast range of projects each with their own varying complex issues. We approach complex issues in a pragmatic and practical manner based upon previous experiences and sound know-how.
We have considerable experience in dealing with difficult, project specific challenges, successfully developing unique solutions to allow the project to move forward.
Green Cat Renewables (GCR) provided all elements of consultancy and development support services for this unique project ranging from initial conception, planning, build and into operation and maintenance management.
Three wind turbines were developed on the site in 2010 by GCR and are some of the best performing wind turbines in mainland UK with an average load factor of over 40%. Solar PV technology was later added following a detailed generation study with the aim of balancing the export profile across the year, thereby utilising the existing grid connection capacity. The construction of combined wind and solar sites is advantageous to the developer providing a greater consistency of generation across the year, levelling out the natural peaks and troughs of the generation profile when these technologies are isolated. The combination of the generation profiles of wind and solar are a particularly good fit as they tend not to coincide. This means that a grid connection for the full combined capacity is not necessary in most cases.
The export limit of the House O’Hill development is 3.2MW, however, the addition of solar has increased the total installed site capacity to 4MW. This has been calculated as the optimum scale of solar installation with the resource and curtailment analysis identifying a curtailment requirement of only 3%. Green Cat undertakes similar studies to match on-site demand with generation.
GCR undertook all environmental and technical assessments required to ensure a viable project was established. The team continued on to successfully gain planning consent; managed construction of the scheme; and continue providing O&M services for the entire project.
The co-location of wind and solar technologies has proven to be a success at this development, by optimising the grid connection infrastructure. A feasibility study has also been undertaken for the addition of battery storage to provide further optimisation to balance the wind and solar resource variability, maximising revenue by enabling continuous maximum export; the overall cost benefit analysis did not support implementation at the current time.
Our multi-disciplinary team offers a wide range of development support services from project concept and feasibility through planning, modelling, engineering, due diligence and operational assessment.
Our primary goal is to provide our customers with a unique integrated service package with the minimum number of interfaces with the aim of reducing risk, preventing delays and simplifying the process. This in turn means we can deliver an efficient, seamless and cost effective package of development support.
With decreasing levels of government support, it is now more important than ever to have a strong base of knowledge and data on the resource available, whether it be wind, hydro or solar, in order to effectively gauge the viability of a project.
We have the in-house capability and expertise to calculate the onsite resource data required at any stage during the project to allow important investment decisions to be made.
The first step in the development of any renewable energy project is a feasibility study to assess the project’s viability, understand the development risk and clarify all potential site options. Drawing on the full range of in-house capabilities and services, we are able to provide a comprehensive and detailed study that allows customers to consider their available options before proceeding or committing.
Our Planning and Environmental team adopt a proactive and positive approach to liaising with regulatory authorities and stakeholders in order to define and tailor the scope of environmental assessment work.
In addition, the comprehensive understanding of planning procedure and policy as well as environmental and technical constraints, enable the team to quickly identify effective solutions to manage project planning risk.
Agreeing a scope of work with statutory consultees and stakeholders prior to submission, saves unnecessary expenditure and time.
Green Cat Renewables provided development support ranging from initial technical assessments to the delivery of planning consent including community engagement and landscaping designs.
As the site is located in one of the best areas in Scotland for levels of sunlight, a solar farm was considered an ideal opportunity to maximise the land use of the former airfield.
The design of the development has allowed for the land to have a dual purpose:
The solar farm will allow for small/ medium sized livestock, such as sheep, to graze the land in-between the rows, and underneath, the panels.
A public exhibition was held in the local community hall to provide information to local residents.
The site has provided poor quality wildlife habitat due to its former use as an RAF Airfield. As a result of the solar park, it is proposed to improve the quality of wildlife habitat and biodiversity by:
The application was well supported by the local Councillors and was approved by the Development Standards Committee of Angus Council.
Our Technical Services Team are industry experts in undertaking energy yield assessments for wind, hydro and solar projects which provide essential, decision making information during all stages of the development. These reports are tailored to the customer’s needs and the particular stage of the project.
Further technical services available include detailed noise assessments undertaken by acoustics accredited and qualified noise experts, pre and post project completion and shadow flicker assessments.
In 2013, Green Cat Renewables Limited (GCR) started work on the planning for this single turbine project.
This is a very constrained site and was only possible by agreeing that normal noise limits at the clients own home could go beyond standard limits even for a financially interested property. This involved putting in place legal documents to ensure the turbine always stayed in the same ownership as the affected house. These agreements caused some unique challenges to the funding of the project as did clients requirement to minimise equity.
Working with the developer and the bank Close Brothers, GCR managed to help negotiate the finance for the project and structure finance terms that allowed the project to proceed.
This project came in on time and budget. The project has been successfully operating since September 2015.
With a designated Engineering Team, we are experienced in the management of project construction from the discharging of planning conditions through to the final snagging tests. We offer a full range of support services specifically tailored to the project and have established good working relationships with key stakeholders such as electricity network operators, turbine manufactures, local authorities, statutory consultees and communities.
The team is supported by Green Cat Geotechnical and ‘sister’ companies: Green Cat Contracting and Prelec Electrical Contractors.
The Benlister Hydro Scheme is located on the Benlister Burn on the Isle of Arran. The scheme lies within the Arran Moors Special Protection Area (SPA).
Green Cat Renewables provided post planning management, detailed scheme design, technical procurement services and Client’s Engineer services.
The key elements of this project are:
INTAKE STRUCTURES
The scheme has 2 intakes which divert water to a main collection intake where the pressurised pipeline starts.
PENSTOCK
The aqueduct pipelines are a total of 675m in length. The pipeline from the main intake to powerhouse is 3,125m long. The upper, low pressure section is of HPPE and the lower, higher pressure section ductile iron (DI). The pipeline has an above ground, pipe bridge, where it crosses the Tounie Burn.
POWERHOUSE
The powerhouse is designed to be a steel portal frame with concrete block infill. Planning conditions required that the roof is covered with grey profiled tin and external walls are clad with vertical larch timbers. The acoustic doors will ensure that sound emissions are kept to a minimum.
ACCESS
An access track used during construction will continue to provide access for maintenance. Its reinstatement to a vegetated running surface will substantially reduce the long term environmental and visual impact of the scheme.
CONSTRAINTS
The construction phase successfully incorporated seasonal working restrictions in relation to Hen Harrier’s in the area.
Issues often arise with operational projects and these can result in a significant loss in revenue if not identified and resolved in a timely manner. We offer tailored services to the customer providing a dedicated team to effectively manage the project closely to ensure the project is operating to its full potential and that the maximum return on your investment is achieved.
Green Cat Renewables can be innovative in its commercial arrangements, success fees, Joint Venture arrangements and deferred payments. We welcome the opportunity to create bespoke commercial arrangements that are beneficial to all stakeholders.
This project was taken through the planning consent phase by the landowners directly, but ran into difficulties due to grid constraints. At this point the landowners were ready to sell the project, however, we offered an alternative which was for Green Cat Renewable Developments to come in as a Joint Venture partner.
We successfully negotiated a grid connection that worked and allowed the project to proceed. We were also able to negotiate a finance deal for the project.
Other notable challenges on this site were that the turbine had been forced into a somewhat compromised location by the need to hide it under a military radar. This meant that the turbine was located on a steep section of hillside adjacent to quarry workings. Our engineers working with Green Cat’s Geotechnical Team were able to design extensive earthworks to make space for the crane hardstanding and set down area whilst not compromising the wind resource.
The project was completed in 2016 and is now operating successfully.
