Wind farm components arrive
Massive turbine components of the $277m wind farm to be built in South Taranaki have started to arrive in Port Taranaki.
Thirty-one hubs and towers, and ninety-three 64m long blades are being shipped from China and Denmark over the next week.
They will be stored near the port, and later trucked to the Waipipi wind farm site near Waverley.
The first shipment of six hubs, 11 towers and 30 blades arrived at Port Taranaki on the Chipol Donghai on Thursday. The huge components dominated the ship’s deck and made for an impressive sight.
In a press release Port Taranaki chief executive Guy Roper said the windfarm was a great development for the region.
‘‘We’re really pleased to be able to support this project by using our facilities and expertise.’’
‘‘This work helps to get businesses operating and trading re-established, so the fact it’s in our area and utilising local businesses is a real boost to the region.’’
Australasian renewable energy generation developer, Tilt Renewables, will build the 133MW windfarm on 980ha between Pa¯tea and Waverley.
Project manager Jim Pearson said the shipments and windfarm construction were ‘‘huge for getting the economy moving post Covid-19.’’
The project will employ 160 people on site and there would be spin-off work using local contractors as much as possible, he said.
The 130m diameter Siemens Gamesa turbine rotors are the largest installed in New Zealand, and will generate an annual average of 455GW hours of electricity – enough to power about 65,000 homes.
The project was scheduled to be fully operational in February 2021.
Last February 99 wind blades arrived at Port Taranaki for Mercury’s wind farm at Turitea, Manawatu¯ .
Another shipment of 84 blades is due at the port in November for the Manawatu¯ site.
Port Taranaki head of commercial Ross Dingle said the wind farm projects were in line with the port’s aim to diversify the trade coming across the berths. ‘‘Logistically, these projects are very exciting and challenging for us,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s great our assets, skills and expertise are being used for a new type of cargo.’’