The $280 million Granville Harbour Wind Farm has hit a milestone with 11 kilometres of transmission line and a switching station successfully built in preparation for the wind farm.
The first wind turbine sections have also been successfully installed, with three lower tower sections erected and standing 46.8 metres above ground level. When completed, each tower will be around 137 metres tall.
Works have also commenced on 13 wind turbine foundations, with the concrete pours being completed and construction of the hardstands underway.
Vestas was appointed as the project’s primary engineering, procurement and construction contractor, and will deliver the wind farm in batches, with the final phase being the testing and commissioning of the wind farm.
Tasmanian Energy Minister Guy Barnett said this is another milestone in delivering the state’s Tasmania First energy policy to make it fully renewable-energy self-sufficient and have the lowest regulated power prices by 2022.
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“The construction of Granville Harbour alone is supporting some 200 jobs with 6 more to continue on an ongoing basis once operational,” he said.
“The development of new wind farms in Tasmania also represents another step in our Battery of the Nation pumped hydro plans that will drive billions in investment and create thousands of jobs in Tasmania.”
Project Director Lyndon Frearson said completing the transmission line gives the development a physical connection to Tasmania’s energy network and brings it closer to delivering a new source of renewable energy to households and businesses.
“We’re really pleased this important project has been completed by local contractors, TasNetworks, Zinfra and Gradco to a high standard,” Frearson said.
When completed, the Granville Harbour Wind Farm will provide up to 360 gigawatt hours of energy a year, enough to power 46,000 homes.
The first wind turbine is expected to be fully installed later in November.