Australian engineering firm lands government funds to build local components for wind turbines

A Bunbury based engineering firm has been awarded $2 million by the Western Australia state government to support its efforts to build a local wind energy manufacturing hub and provide locally made parts for wind turbines.

The funding will support RCR Advanced Technologies’ $5.3 million plan to build a pilot production plant for “transition flanges”, which connect the wind turbine tower to the concrete foundations and are currently manufactured entirely overseas.

RCR says it is already in talks with turbine manufacturers to build the flanges locally, including global wind energy manufacturer Vestas, and has also held discussions with renewable energy project developer Green Wind Renewables over its portfolio of projects in the state.

All told, the project is expected to create up to 48 new jobs and generate $36 million in new revenue over the next five years.

“This will have a significant impact in the region we operate in and offers opportunities for us, our workforce, and the region to adapt,” said Neville Kelly, manager of RCR Advanced Technologies.

“RCR is in a prime position to upskill local workers and provide employment related to modern energy sources, while leveraging our mining sector heritage in engineering projects to meet burgeoning demand from the onshore wind energy supply chain in Western Australia.”

The state’s Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program is making a total of $8 million available to support manufacturers in the wind energy supply chain as well as manufacturers looking to break into the sector.

“We’re enabling local companies to scale up, invest in advanced equipment, and secure their place in global clean energy supply chains,” said Amber-Jade Sanderson, state minister for energy and decarbonisation.

“This project demonstrates the WA Government’s commitment to building a competitive, future-focused manufacturing base that drives decarbonisation and creates quality jobs for Western Australians.”

Bayswater-based manufacturer Australian Winders was the first company to secure funding from the Program, receiving $488,204 in co-investment funding to support the development of a near-$1 million project that will see the company offer local repair and maintenance of wind turbine coils.

It is expected the company will be able to evolve to begin manufacturing new coils for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and wind farm operators, providing a local replacement to an otherwise imported product.