Case Study: Safely Aligning Forestry Harvesting & Windfarm Operations
- Ronan O'Meara
- Apr 6, 2023
- 1 min read
Updated: May 29
BACKGROUND
EnergyPro were engaged to take over as technical managers for an existing operational windfarm constructed on third-party owned forested land. On take-over, it was clear that forestry felling operations were being carried out without notification or consultation with the windfarm’s previous asset managers.
ENERGYPRO ACTIONS
EnergyPro engaged with the forestry harvesting operations manager and the relevant Business Area Unit manager. We established a clear plan for future works and an agreed set of standards for an interface agreement, including prior notification, requirements for site inductions and clarity on safety responsibilities.
RESULTS
An interface agreement was drafted and safety levels were substantially improved. Within Wind Energy Ireland we established and led a “Windfarm Interface” working group to ensure that this approach could be standardised across the industry.
"Establishing a clear interface agreement is a key part of our onboarding process and ensures full clarity on safety roles with all relevant stakeholders"
Stephen Lyons
HSE Manager
About the Author
Ronan O'Meara, Managing Director
Ronan is a chartered engineer and renewable energy analyst, with a particular research interest in computational fluid dynamics modelling of wind flow patterns around obstacles.
