Remote nature of Noen’s Kaban Green Power Hub in Far North Queensland posed a major challenge to the participants involved in the installation of the 28 Vestas wind turbines. 

Movement of the wind turbine components started in early 2022, from the Port of Cairns. Mammoet was brought in to complete offloading, preassembly and main installation. The company had to deal with narrow access roads and steep slopes, while prioritising safety and efficiency.

The scope of work included the offloading, preassembly and main installation of 28 Vestas EnVentusTM V162-5.6 MW turbines – the first of their kind in Australia. Working alongside Vestas’ mechanical and electrical installation teams, Mammoet assisted in the lifting and assembly of turbine components, including tower sections, nacelles, powertrains, hubs, and blades. Once assembled, these turbines stood at an impressive tip height of 226 metres.

700-ton crane for preassembly

Mammoet said it utilised a Terex Demag AC700 crane for the combined offloading and preassembly scope. This 700-ton capacity hydraulic crane was engineered to set up in a single optimal position, which enabled a two-stage offloading process with intermediate preassembly.

This approach decreased the number of teams required on-site from three to two, and minimised crane movements needed between lifts, resulting in significant time and cost savings.

Then, Mammoet’s LG 1750SX, equipped with a 151-metre main boom and 12-metre fixed fly, proved to be the ideal crane for this project. Meeting the requirements of these high and powerful wind turbines, it lifted the EnVentus powertrains, each weighing 92 tons, to a hub height of 149 metres.

Scheuerle SPMTs and Goldhofer THP for counterweight movement

A fleet of Scheuerle SPMT and Goldhofer THP multi-axle trailers were used to manoeuvre 400 tons of superlift counterweight at once, supporting the LG1750 installation, and up to 280 tons of counterweight at once during on-site relocations.

This method not only accelerated operations but also reduced the number of truck and trailer trips, ultimately minimising the project’s carbon footprint, Mammoet said.

Bjorn-Evert Van Eck Rasmussen, sales executive manager Mammoet Australia commented, “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. With a strong focus on sustainability, we brought a new level of expertise to the table. 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.”

Located in the Atherton Tablelands, Neoen’s Kaban Green Power Hub aims to harness the region’s abundant wind resources to contribute to Queensland’s ambitious target of 50 per cent renewable electricity by 2030. Situated near the town of Ravenshoe, the site’s high elevation and the presence of a 275kV high voltage transmission line made it an ideal location for renewable energy generation.

Once complete the $373 million wind farm, is expected to generate 460,000MW hours of clean energy annually.