Construction of the onshore works to support the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm took a purposefully slow step forward at the weekend with the delivery of a massive 'shunt reactor' to the site of the wind farm’s connection to the National Grid in the Lammermuir Hills.

The 160-tonne shunt reactor (10 metres long, 3 metres wide, 5 metres high) provides voltage control and compensates for the length of the onshore and offshore cables that will deliver up to 450 megawatts of green electricity from the NnG wind farm in the outer Forth Estuary to its onshore substation at the existing Crystal Rig onshore wind farm.

The substation is planned for completion next year and is a vital component in the wind farm, which is being developed by EDF Renewables (UK) and ESB.

The shunt reactor was transported, under police escort, to the NnG onshore substation, near Innerwick, from the Port of Leith on a special 67m-long trailer overnight Friday into Saturday. It was then transferred onto a 45m-long trailer capable of negotiating the narrower road up to Crystal Rig.

Matt Hagg, project directorsaid: “The shunt reactor is vital to enable NnG’s safe connection to the National Grid. We’re grateful to all our neighbours in Innerwick and the surrounding area for their patience as we ensured its safe passage to the substation.”

A second shunt reactor is due for delivery next weekend.