Less than a year after the start of the works, and after the winter break in construction, the first wind turbines have already “sprung up” on the Ivovik Hill, in the area of Tomislavgrad and Livno. Half of the 20 planned wind turbines of the project of the same name have been fully erected. They are scheduled to turn their blades at the end of the year when the wind farm will be put into trial operation.
The erection of wind turbines is one of the most demanding construction segments, especially in the case of the Ivovik project, which is located in a hilly area, which makes it difficult to handle the machinery and store the equipment. At the same time, the safety of all participants in the process and the relevant regulations and requirements must be taken into account without compromise. Erection of the wind turbines depends on many factors, including weather conditions and safety when operating the machinery, which includes an excavator, roller, loader, and cranes – 18 machines in total. Each of them has a use permit and is equipped with sound and light warning signals, and every worker on construction machines is trained to work on them. Since the start of construction in July last year until today, not a single case of injury or incident on the construction site has been recorded on the project.
Relevant studies, provided by law and carried out before construction, showed that the Ivovik project will not negatively affect the usual activities of birds and bats in the environment. In addition, wind energy does not deplete natural resources, which makes it sustainable for future generations.
So far, access roads, platforms, foundations of most turbines, and 10 wind turbines have been completely completed on the Ivovik project, while the substation and control building is under construction. With compliance with high safety standards at work and a favorable wind, commissioning is expected in the spring of 2024. It is projected that in the next 25 years of its operation, Ivovik will produce 259 GWh annually, enough to supply 100 thousand households with clean energy.
According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), wind power reduces global carbon emissions by more than one billion tons each year. The Ivovik Wind Farm will reduce carbon emissions by 240.000 tons per year. This is especially important for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which follows European Union (EU) policies in the field of energy and climate, and has undertaken the obligations of decarbonization and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. When completed, the Ivovik Wind Farm will contribute 84 MW of green energy capacity to the BiH grid. The electricity produced in this power plant should be sold to local energy companies.
The realization of the Ivovik Wind Farm project means the utilization of a huge potential for the production of electricity from renewable sources, the reduction of the negative impact on the environment, and a significant contribution to the development of the domestic economy, not only through employment, procurement of materials, but also in the name of various fees that the company pays to the budgets at multiple levels.
E.Dz.
