Windfarm components arrive
18 February2005Portland Observer
By JASON WALLACE
WINDFARM components were transported from the Port of Portland to Kepple Prince Engineering this week in preparation for erection of the first section of the Portland Wind Energy Project at Yambuk. A HUGE shipment of components for the Yambuk section of the Portland Wind Energy Project arrived at the Port of Portland this week, marking a major step in the multi-million dollar development.
"We've waited years for this," said Keppel Prince general manager Steve Garner at the company's Darts Road plant, as dust rose in the distance from earthworks that began this week for the construction of the Vestas blade plant.
The 20 nacelles Ñ each worth over $2 million, including a generator, and weighing 45 tonnes Ñ as well as hubs, containers of equipment and three sets of blades that arrived from the US and Denmark are being stored at Keppel Prince until towers are erected at Yambuk in the next four to seven weeks.
Mr Garner said the team of 70-80 staff at Keppel Prince building towers was a third of the way through making components for the Yambuk wind farm.
Meanwhile, the Yambuk site has been handed over to contractor Vestas for development and Pacific Hydro project manager Danny Halstead said up to 70 people would be involved in establishing the wind farm, including a range of local contractors.
Track work is underway at Yambuk and Mr Halstead said the foundations for each tower would require 60 truckloads of concrete and Boral had established a temporary batch plant at the site.
Another shipment of blades for Yambuk is due from the UK on March 22 and the wind farm is expected to be completed mid-2005, with Pacific Hydro planning that construction of wind farms at capes Sir William Grant, Nelson and Bridgewater would then follow with blades constructed at the Vestas Portland plant.
Pacific Hydro spokesperson Clare Laffan said the company was investing $54 million in construction of the Yambuk wind farm and $380 million at the three capes.
