First turbine 'up by Christmas'

Plains Producer
Wednesday 12/12/2007 Page: 7

The first turbine will be erected at the Snowtown windfarm before Christmas. The 124 metre tall structure will be the first of 42 turbines to be built before September next year. TrustPower major projects group manager, Deion Campbell, said putting the turbines together was something of a logistical nightmare, although roads in Adelaide and South Australia made the project a little easier.

In preparation for the arrival of the first turbine, the largest crane on wheels in the world has been transported to the site - with the help of 32 trucks. The 1200 tonne crane has been moved to Snowtown from the Hallett Wind Farm. The turbine will also be a challenge to construct. Each tower (sourced in Adelaide) will arrive in four parts, while the main shaft, weighing 70 to 80 tonnes, is shipped from India, and is expected to arrive at Port Adelaide on Monday, December 19.

Blades arrive two to a truckload, and are 40 metres long. The hub will arrive on another truck, while another container of "bits and pieces" will also arrive over the coming two weeks. Mr Campbell said if there was a good run with the wind, the turbine was likely to be erected in two days, but they could not be put up in high wind. He said other parts of the project were ahead of schedule. "We're probably about 80 per cent through the civil construction work," Mr Campbell said.

Electrical infrastructure is now being put in the ground, and the substation is almost ready to go live. "All the operations and maintenance buildings are in place now, and a couple of months ahead of schedule," Mr Campbell said. "The weather's been quite kind to us and now we're heading into summer, we're unlikely to get rain to hold us up." About 80 people are employed on the site.