Bigger than Godzilla: Fortescue receives second shipment of turbine parts to top “self-lifting” towers

A second shipment of some of the biggest wind turbine parts yet seen in Australia, including the longest blades, has arrived in Port Hedland in Western Australia’s far north, en route to their Fortescue’s first wind farm in the Pilbara.

Fortescue has posted an update on the progress at its 133 megawatt (MW) Nullagine wind project, where the iron ore giant is testing a unique “self lifting” wind tower technology developed by Spain’s Nabrawind, now owned by Fortescue.

Topping the towers will be Envision’s technology, including 89 metre long blades, twice as long as a Boeing 737, according to Fortescue.

“With the second vessel now in port carrying the next set of parts, the operation is gathering pace,” Fortescue said in a post on LinkedIn on the weekend.

“We’re transporting these beasts 300 kilometres from Port Hedland to Nullagine, where we’re building a 133 MW wind farm to help power our operations with renewable energy.”

As Renew Economy has reported, Envision are also supplying the same 7.8 megawatt turbines – the most powerful to be deployed in Australia – to the Narrogin wind farm south of Perth, which began construction in July after project owner Neoen struck a long term offtake agreement with Synergy.

For Fortescue, the Nullagine wind project will be followed by a bigger wind project at the neighbouring Bonney Downs facility, along with 1.4 GW of solar that is currently being delivered elsewhere in the Pilbara.

The self lifting turbine tower technology allows for simpler and quicker erections, less concrete, and elevates the blades themselves to where there is generally more wind.

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