Over the next few months, nearly 370 giant wind turbine blades will make their way from the Port of Brisbane to their home at the Coopers Gap Wind Farm, near Cooranga North between Dalby and Kingaroy.
Each turbine blade is approximately 70 m long and weighs more than 17 tonnes.
Taraz Saba, senior technical director at GHD, will lead the wind turbine inspection team. GHD is also providing owner’s engineer services to AGL, which is constructing and will be operating the project for the Powering Australian Renewables Fund.
An owner’s engineer plays a critical role by being the client’s technical “eyes and ears”, anticipating and resolving all the different technical risks and complexities that may come up on a project.
“Safe haulage of these blades is a blend of multi-level logistical planning, specialised trucking, sophisticated lifting and installation, using leading technology, innovation and the largest cranes in the country,” said Saba.
When Coopers Gap Wind Farm is completed in 2019 it will be Australia’s largest wind farm providing 453MW (i.e. 1,510,000 MWh/year) of renewable electricity to the grid.
GHD has a track record of owner’s engineering services for a number of signature renewable energy projects in Australia, such as the celebrated Hornsdale Wind Farm and Tesla battery project in South Australia.
“Coopers Gap Wind Farm is a momentous project I am proud to be a part of. I am looking forward to seeing these blades spin in Queensland’s blue skies,” said Saba.
The company is currently engaged in key roles on several wind and solar projects, such as Bulgana Green Power Hub, Lincoln Gap, Badgingarra and Moorabool Wind Farms.