Australian manufacturing is playing a vital role in the construction of the only wind farm being built in New South Wales, with Western Sydney-based Precision Oxycut producing critical foundation components for Squadron Energy’s Uungula Wind Farm.
Precision Oxycut has fabricated the steel plates of the anchor cages that form the base of each turbine, providing the structural strength required to support long-term operation in demanding environmental conditions.
The plates are made at Oxycut’s warehouse in Smithfield, while the bolts of the cages are manufactured by Allthread Industries in nearby Regents Park. Both Western Sydney companies are subsidiaries of Sell and Parker.
The cages are then assembled at Oxycut’s Newcastle warehouse before they’re delivered to site. The 69 cages – one for each turbine – are now complete, with the majority already planted. The final cages are being delivered over the coming weeks.
Each anchor cage is made from 100 per cent Australian steel supplied by fellow Australian manufacturer BlueScope, with the steel produced at the company’s Port Kembla Steelworks.
Squadron Energy Regional Economic Development Manager Bart Sykes said it was valuable to work with Australian companies to build renewable energy projects.
“It’s fantastic to see Australian manufacturers, like Precision Oxycut in Western Sydney, playing a critical role in Uungula Wind Farm,” Mr Sykes said.
“Uungula Wind Farm is one of many Squadron projects Oxycut has worked on, which speaks to the quality of their work.
“These anchor cages literally form the foundation of our wind turbines – and knowing they’re being made by the experts at Oxycut using Australian-made steel from BlueScope, it gives us the confidence in the strength and durability of our turbines.
“This partnership is a prime example of the opportunities that renewable energy presents for Australian companies.”
Precision Oxycut has previously built anchor cages for Bango Wind Farm, Crudine Ridge Wind Farm, Murra Warra Wind Farm and Clarke Creek Wind Farm.
Local business working together
Demand from Uungula Wind Farm alone has led to the creation of six new jobs at Precision Oxycut, with staff hired specifically to support cage production.
Precision Oxycut and Allthread Industries General Manager Simon Preston said working with Squadron Energy and BlueScope had created major opportunities.
“Thanks to the collaboration between Squadron Energy, BlueScope and Precision Oxycut, we are able to create real jobs with real futures for Australian manufacturing,” Mr Preston said.
“We have been able to create apprenticeship roles that have not existed in our factory for decades, we have created an engineering team full of young graduates who are working on major infrastructure projects straight out or university.
“In my mind there is nothing but good that has been created by these projects. We are helping to make Australian energy generation green and boosting the economy and the lives of those people that work within it.”
This collaboration demonstrates how Australian companies are working together to deliver complex infrastructure locally – from steelmaking through to fabrication and construction – and supporting the state’s renewable energy transition.
BlueScope’s Interim General Manager, Australian Steel Markets, Antony Schillaci, said the collaboration showed the strength of Australia’s wind supply chain.
“Supplying this project and supporting the wind industry for over 20 years, demonstrates the capability of an Australian wind supply chain,” Mr Schillaci said.
“There’s an immense opportunity to also use local steel in the wind tower itself and develop more local manufacturing.”
Uungula Wind Farm will feature 69 wind turbines and generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 220,000 homes, with the project creating 250 jobs during construction.