Providing a turn-key response to your project needs

One of the most important aspects of your wind turbine project will be the planning process. Prior to the installation of your turbine(s) you must attain planning permission from your Local Authority. By managing a planning application on your behalf, Virogen will undertake the following:

• Consult with various bodies as relevant to your site: Radio links, Airport Authorities,ANOB etc.
• Compile all the necessary information, create and submit a planning application,
• Ensure that the planning application is validated and registered,
• Monitor the application during the planning process,
• Liaise with the Council, providing any additional information and answering any questions they may have regarding the project.

During the course of planning, your local Council may request additional supporting documentation to provide more in depth information regarding topics ranging from cumulative noise emissions data to the projected visual impact of the installation. Many of these enquiries we will handle in house, though there may be some requests, such as bat surveys or bird surveys, that must be passed to specialist consultants and will incur extra costs.

Power NI is keen to encourage the uptake of renewable energy in Northern Ireland so we have arrangements in place where we can reward renewable energy generators for NIROCs (Northern Ireland Renewable Obligation Certificates) on electricity which is generated by a renewable source.

Exported electricity (i.e. electricity which you generate but don’t use on the premises).

You must have a Grid Connection Agreement in place with Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) in order to export to the electricity network. We can request an NIE Generator application for (G83/G59). An import/export meter must be fitted by NIE, not Power NI. If you need an import/export meter then this will be triggered by you completing and submitting the NIE Grid Connection Agreement.

Export payments will be paid annually to generators of 10kW or less – generators over 10kW can choose a quarterly or annual payment. If your generator is over 50kWPower NI is offering a market tracking product to generators between 50kW-250kW which means that they will apply half hourly export metering data against electricity market prices. Generators will receive a value for their exported electricity which will reflect the prevailing underlying wholesale price of electricity.

Power NI will pay you on a monthly basis through a bank transfer for your exported electricity based on data received from your half hour meter (your half hourly meter data will be sent to Power NI and will be applied against half hourly market prices for each month).

For the security of your funds when purchasing a new wind turbine, Virogen recommend and use Letter of Credit for the completion of each stage of the installation process. This is a preferred option should you wish to fund your project through your bank or finance house.

This is a very important part in the process of installing a wind turbine generator. Virogen can undertake full project management or provide a turnkey arrangement, as circumstances require. Management includes all aspects of the project, including procurement, contract letting, and contract and site management. Full or partial turnkey packages can be put together rapidly and cost effectively, using local contractors.

We have now set up a secure payment system that offers you the client full peace of mind on your money. This is in the form of a letter of credit.

Instead of a Deposit being handed se contract. Once the letter of credit is in place the wind turbine begins construction, with no money drawn down until 5 weeks after shipping (Bill of Laden). This gives you the customer the security required on your money in that the turbine will have left the factory & be either very close or actually on site within this time period.

Money is then only drawn down at the specific stages such as foundation installation, turbine delivery, commissioning etc, hence reducing your risk at all times.

Most companies require a deposit on signing of purchase contract, which can be very hard to secure once handed over.

During the initial site survey we can check local topography and define which size of turbine may or may not be suitable. This is your opportunity to ask as many questions as you want during the survey and we will be able to provide an estimated performance using a third party software so we can give you accurate and useful guidance on what is most suitable for you.

For a full feasibility study we would recommend using an independent company which will give a full appraisal of your site to help you determine the viability of the project. We can recommend a number of wind consulting companies if you so wish. An independent report can be vital in attaining finance for your project.

RRB Energy Ltd been manufacturing wind turbines for over 25 years, unlike a lot of competitors who have only started assembling wind turbines again because of the ROC’s and feed in tariff scheme’s offered to small/medium sized turbines. This quality of the supply chain has long been in place giving potential customers piece of mind on their investment. Should there ever be a need, it is re-assuring to know that the manufacturer is within easy reach for expert advice, direct support and access to parts. RRB Energy also welcomes clients to the factory to inspect their turbine prior to shipping if desired. Virogen are a direct distributor for Ireland ensuring all money transfers are more secure for all parties involved.