In part two of our series on the engineering expertise involved in wind farm development, we discuss civil engineering's role and value
While the towering turbines often steal the spotlight, it’s civil engineering that underpins any successful wind farm development. From initial design to the final construction stages, civil engineers make sure wind farms are efficient, cost-effective and practical.
We sat down with Jason Amiri, Fyfe’s Principal Engineer – Renewables and Hydrogen, to chat about what’s involved from a civil perspective.
Concept design and beyond
Jason explains that it’s during a wind farm’s conceptual design phase that civil engineering takes centre stage, but civil’s work extends into other stages too.
Civil engineering teams work closely with wind turbine suppliers to optimise turbine placement. “The aim is to maximise Annual Energy Production (AEP), so turbine locations are typically chosen to harness the highest wind speeds, often on the top of hills or ridgelines” Jason says.
However, building in these locations isn’t always straightforward, as terrain and construction feasibility can present obstacles. This is where civil engineers step in, conducting micro-siting to ensure turbines are placed in locations that balance energy efficiency with practicality.
“During the micro-siting process, we analyse optimal turbine locations and, if necessary, move them to a more feasible area,” Jason explains. “These adjustments take into account construction costs and the complexity of building in certain places.”
Refining designs and gaining approvals
Once optimal turbine locations are identified, their coordinates are passed to the client and turbine supplier for further energy calculations, with engineers continually refining the design to reach the best possible compromise between energy output and construction cost.
Jason explains that the civil engineering team is involved during the development approval phase as well. Clients must prepare submissions showing development corridors. In a wind farm context, a development corridor means a mapped area showing where wind turbines and associated site access tracks and infrastructure will be located, considering civil and environmental design constraints.
Using advanced software, civil engineers create a detailed 3D model of the entire wind farm, which helps clients visualise the project and assists in the development approval processes.
Civil Engineers remain involved throughout later stages of the project as well to provide input during construction tendering and detailed design.
Detailed design and construction
When tendering to construction companies, civil engineers prepare comprehensive and precise scoping for clients to share with construction companies, ensuring that all aspects of the planned design are included and feasible.
“We assist our clients by preparing comprehensive preliminary design documentation that provides clarity and structure to the entire process,” says Jason. “This provides construction companies all the necessary details they need to quote for and execute the project.”
Civil engineers can play a key role throughout the construction phase too. As Jason highlights, engineers can either manage the detailed design process on the client’s behalf or directly support the construction company in developing detailed designs.
Engineer oversight ensures that detailed designs remain efficient and that any changes proposed are carefully evaluated for impact on cost and performance.
Mass haul analysis
Mass haul analysis is particularly important in large-scale developments like wind farms, where significant earthworks are required.
The goal is to ensure that the right amount of material is moved efficiently and at the right time, helping to minimise costs, reduce delays, and ensure projects stay on track.
“Without appropriate mass haul analysis, construction companies can face significant financial losses and delays due to unforeseen issues like incorrect scheduling or miscalculations of the volumes of earthwork movements involved,” Jason warns.
“By performing this analysis, we help construction teams better understand project scope and reduce the risk of schedule delays and construction cost increases.”
A long-term investment, done right
Overall, civil engineering is not just about designing the physical infrastructure; it’s about ensuring that wind farms are built in the most efficient, cost-effective way possible.
As Jason notes, “A wind farm is a long-term investment. Civil engineers make sure that investment pays off by optimising design, minimising construction risks and ensuring the project stays within budget.”
To learn more about our wind farm work, or to speak to Fyfe’s Principal Engineer – Renewables and Hydrogen, Jason Amiri or a member of our engineering team, please contact us.
