Mammoet Australia has completed a complex wind turbine installation project in Queensland’s Kaban Green Power Hub.
Working alongside mechanical and electrical installation teams from Vestas, Mammoet’s scope of work focused on the offloading, preassembly, and main installation of the 28 Vestas EnVentusTM V162-5.6 wind turbines.
“Through our collaborative efforts with Neoen, Vestas and the other project stakeholders, we played a part in driving the transition to clean and green energy in Far North Queensland,” said Sales Executive Manager of Mammoet Australia Bjorn-Evert Eck Rasmussen.
The global heavy lifting specialists used a Terex Demag AC700 crane, a Liebherr LG 1750SX lattice boom crane, a fleet of Scheuerle SPMTs and Goldhofer THP multi-axle trailers to complete its work on the $373 million project.
One of the main challenges posed to the conglomerate of teams was the remote nature of the site, which they could only gain access to via narrow access roads and steep slopes. Working on a renewable energy project, the team aimed to keep their carbon footprint as minimal as possible while operating in as safe and efficient a manner as possible.
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To offload and preassemble the crane, Mammoet utilised its Demag AC700 hydraulic crane. Establishing the machine in a single, optimal position enabling a two-stage offloading process with intermediate preassembly, the number of staff required was reduced by a third and minimised crane movements between lifts, resulting in large resource savings.
For the wind turbine installation aspect, Mammoet employed its Liebherr lattice boom LG1750SX crane. Using the SPMTs to manoeuvre 400 tonnes of superlift counterweight, the lattice boom mobile crane was configured with a 151-metre main boom and 12 metres of fixed fly-jib attachment. What this ensured was that the crane could lift the wind turbines, each weighing 92 tonnes, to a hub height of 149 metres.
“The company’s long-established presence in Australia, extensive fleet of equipment and vast expertise in onshore wind farm projects, positioned us as the ideal partner for the project,” said Eck Rasmussen. “With a strong focus on sustainability, we brought a new level of expertise to the table.”
Based in the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Neoen’s Kaban Green Power Hub aims to harness the region’s wind resources to help hit Queensland’s 50% renewable electricity by 2030 target.
The $373 million wind farm is expected to power up to 100,000 homes by generating 460,000 megawatts of clean energy annually.
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