The first batch of wind turbine components has been delivered to site for Uungula Wind Farm, heralding the start of the next phase of the project.
Oversize overmass (OSOM) deliveries from Port of Newcastle started this week, with up to 26 deliveries scheduled per week to safely transport almost 900 components to site.
Squadron Energy GM Mark Hunt said the deliveries would mean a change in activity in the coming months on site as teams mobilise to start building the 69 turbines which make up the 414MW wind farm.
“We’ve been busy completing the turbine foundations on site, with more than 55 now finished, but this is where the work soon starts to become more visual with cranes standing up tower sections ahead of installation.
“In the coming months, we’ll start installation with 750 tonne cranes involved in the careful lifting of turbine pieces into place.
“As we move into the installation phase, a lot the civil work like access roads has finished, so we’ll see a changeover in workforce rather than an increase,” Mr Hunt said.
Each turbine has 13 components that will each make the 400km journey to Wellington from Newcastle via the Golden Highway.
“Our main focus right now is the delivery of turbine tower segments, which range in length from 10 to 36 metres, and nacelles, which sit on top of the tower encasing the gearbox, generator, and brake system.
“We’ll start to move blades, which are the most challenging components due to their length, in the coming months,” he said.
The start of deliveries represents a key construction milestone for the Uungula Wind Farm project, with major wind turbine components weighing up to almost 100 tonnes each now being transported from port to site under approved traffic management arrangements.
“We thank the community and motorists for their patience while these deliveries take place, we’ve worked hard to ensure the timing of deliveries minimises impacts to the local community,” Mr Hunt said.
Squadron Energy has worked closely with principal contractor GE Vernova, transport operator ARES, local councils and relevant agencies to plan deliveries safely and minimise impacts on local communities and road users along the transport route.
Current deliveries from the Port of Newcastle are travelling via the Golden Highway, Saxa Road, continuing via the Mitchell Highway/Goolma Road intersection and Twelve Mile Road to the project site.
Port of Newcastle CEO Craig Carmody said: “Since August last year, we’ve worked closely with Squadron Energy across vessel discharge, laydown, storage and load-out to prepare these oversized components for transport to site at Uungula.”
“This milestone demonstrates Port of Newcastle’s capability as Australia’s premiere port for the management of all complex, heavy-lift project cargo and coordination of its safe and efficient movement through the supply chain.”
Uungula Wind Farm is located on Wiradjuri Country, 14km east of Wellington, NSW. Once completed, it will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of more than 220,000 homes and prevent more than 560,000 tonnes of carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere annually.
The project is creating 262 jobs and investing $41 million in the regional economy.