First turbines up and spinning at Australia’s largest wind farm

Some of the massive turbine blades that started making their way to the 453MW Coopers Gap Wind Farm in Queensland in September are now up and and ready to spin, after the completion of the first wind towers at the site north of Brisbane.

Project developer AGL Energy said the first of 123 turbines that will make up Australia’s largest wind farm – at least for a time – was being completed in mid-November, marking “a great milestone” for Coopers Gap.

“Projects like this involve enormous efforts by many stakeholders; the logistics of getting the massive components to site alone is one of the areas which can prove challenging,” said general manager of development and construction, Dave Johnson.

“We have worked with many government agencies and others to have the components transported from the Brisbane Port to our site for what will be a 453MW power station.”

As we reported here in September, delivery of the blades – which AGL claims to be Australia’s largest – was no easy feat, with the largest measuring 67.2 metres long and weighing in at a hefty 22 tonnes.

Johnson said this week that on-site construction of the wind farm was progressing well, with 95 foundations poured, both main transformers energised, construction of the 275kV substation by Powerlink complete, and energisation of the 33kV switchyard expected next week.

The wind farm is on track to be completed in late 2019.