Ratch Australian Corporation have announced that it has raised the last of 53 turbines at its 180MW Mount Emerald Wind Farm project – 19 months after construction works first got started.
All of the high voltage underground cabling has now been installed, connecting each of the turbines to the site’s substation and switchyard. From here, the power generated enters the grid network for distribution to electricity users in the far north.
Anthony Yeates, Ratch’s executive general manager for business development, said the project’s complexity had taken a true team effort.
“Everyone at Ratch, including our contractors and many local suppliers, share a great sense of accomplishment,” Yeates said.
“The site’s rugged and hilly terrain presented many challenges, plus we were committed to delivering a very high-level of protection to the local ecology.
“Our contractors have really done a great job getting the turbines up.”
Lead contractor Vestas was assisted by crane contractor Windhoist and transport contractor Rex Andrews during the transportation, lifting and assembling of the turbines for the $360 million wind farm project.
“It takes a lot of experience and very specialised equipment to deliver all the components by road and get them all lifted and assembled,” Yeates said.
“These companies are the best at what they do in wind farm construction and it really showed on this site. This also means we have finished the road transport for deliveries of all the major components.
“A special thanks must go to all the local road users for their patience and understanding during the construction period, and also local police who provided the road transport escorts.”
Once fully operational, Mount Emerald will be the biggest wind farm in Queensland and will deliver around 540,000MW hours of renewable energy, which is predicted to meet the annual needs of approximately 75,000 North Queensland homes over a 20-year period.