In the western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, another project will soon start harnessing the power of wind to produce clean energy. On September 11, 2023, the last of the 20 wind turbines in Ivovik project was installed - ahead of the planned schedule! This is the longest, most difficult and most risky part of work in any wind power project construction process. It represents the culmination of extensive planning, meticulous engineering, and unwavering dedication.
Unapproachable terrain
The project is located in a mountainous area, at an altitude of about 1,400 meters. Due to the terrain conditions, the hoisting platform site is relatively small, and the space for equipment storage and crane operation is relatively limited, which greatly increases the difficulty of hoisting operations. Turbines themselves are 100 meters high, with blades diameter of 136 meters, and the total weight of a single installed turbine exceeding 500 tons.
Harsh weather
Wind turbine installation can be a complex and challenging process, involving various technical, logistical, and environmental considerations. Besides the rough and unapproachable terrain, weather conditions pose a substantial difficulty in this process. High winds, storms, and extreme temperatures can delay or halt installation work, posing safety risks to the installation crew. In Livno and Tomislavgrad, where our project is located, the snowfall period lasts from early November to mid-April of the following year, making the effective construction window period extremely short.
Safety concerns
Turbine components, such as tower sections, blades, and nacelles, are often large and heavy, making transportation to remote or difficult-to-access sites a significant challenge. Roads and infrastructure were specially built to facilitate their transfer. Our wind turbine components have been produced by Goldwind, a renowned Chinese state-owned multinational wind turbine manufacturer, which has distributed 49,000 wind turbines all over the world, with a global cumulative installed capacity exceeding 105GW.
Wind turbine installation is a precise and intricate process that requires a stable environment to ensure safety and accuracy. Rigorous safety protocols were implemented to safeguard the well-being of our team members, ensuring that no risks were taken lightly and weather forecast were monitored days ahead.
Our contribution to sustainable energy
With 84 MW of installed capacity, Ivovik is currently the wind power project with the largest overall capacity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Every installed turbine brought us closer to our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy source.
Ivovik project company will continue to lead all parties involved in the construction to accelerate the remaining construction work, strive to complete the project construction goals as soon as possible, and make unremitting efforts to build Ivovik into a benchmark flagship project for Chinese enterprises in Europe. We are thrilled to make this substantial contribution to the “Belt and Road” initiative, as it is marking its 10th anniversary.
We are fully ready for the next stages of thorough testing to ensure that each turbine operates at optimal efficiency and reliability before it is connected to the grid. Ivovik eagerly anticipates the day when our wind farm will begin to contribute to reducing the carbon footprint in our host country.