Massive parts on the way

GIGANTIC wind turbine parts will be seen on Far North roads until late this year as French renewable energy company Neoen ramps up construction of the Kaban wind farm on the Tablelands.

Five full turbines are on site with another 23 to be transported to Ravenshoe from Cairns port.

A Neoen spokesman said transport would continue four to five days a week until October or November.

“All components are escorted by trained logistics personnel with additional Queensland Police Service support,” he said.

The dimensions of parts for the turbines that will measure 223m are staggering.

The rotor diameters are 162m and the blade lengths are 79m.

Blades weigh 24 tonnes. They are being transported up the Palmerston and Kennedy highways.

Construction on the $370m project is set to push through to March 2023.

The Kaban Green Power Hub is 80km southwest of Cairns, and will include a 157MW wind farm and a 320km transmission line upgrade alongside its wind farm and battery components.

Neoen said it would provide enough energy to power 100,000 Queensland homes.

The state government is providing $40m towards the network upgrade, which will contribute to establishing the North Queensland Renewable Energy Zone.

Conservationists said they were horrified that the blades had serrated edges, which the company said would minimise noise.