Keppel Prince Engineering’s major contract for Glen Innes wind farm towers

03 Nov 2016

 

 

The Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce has welcomed news that the Portland, Victoria-based Keppel Prince Engineering (KPE) has secured a major tower supply contract with Goldwind for White Rock Wind Farm, west of Glen Innes.

 

White Rock Wind Farm is now in the construction phase and will be the largest wind farm in NSW with 70 wind turbines totalling 175MW in capacity.

 

KPE will be building 80 tower sections for White Rock Wind Farm, equating to a total of 28 per cent of the tower sections being used in the project.

 

Mr Joyce was part of an earth-turning ceremony earlier this year and welcomed the economic injection to the Glen Innes district White Rock and two other proposed wind farms offered.

 

“The White Rock Wind Farm will put New England on the map as a national leader in renewable energy production and drive local jobs and economic activity through the construction phase,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“This project will be a fantastic boost for the local economy, employing up to 200 people during the construction phase and generating 10 full-time positions over a 20 year period.

 

“This and other clean energy projects proposed for the region will ensure the New England is a major player in the field and sending power to the New England and beyond,” he said.

 

Goldwind Australia’s Managing Director John Titchen said the organisation was “extremely pleased to announce the local production of 80 tower sections by the KPE team in Portland”.

 

“This contract follows substantial work by Goldwind and KPE to develop a competitive local tower solution.

 

 “Under the White Rock Wind Farm Local Business Engagement Plan we are committed to local sourcing where feasible. In addition to this tower order, we recently announced the supply of White Rock Wind Farm power transformers by Wilson Transformer Company. Local contractors and suppliers are also engaged in White Rock Wind Farm site works,” Mr Titchen said.

 

KPE’s General Manager Steve Garner said he is pleased to be working with Goldwind again and commends their ongoing commitment to the intent of the Renewable Energy Target (RET) in creating and maintaining local jobs for the industry.

 

“Goldwind continues to support local jobs and KPE are extremely pleased to be working for the White Rock Wind Farm. We look forward to working on further projects into the future.”

 

Construction of stage one of the White Rock Wind Farm is planned to be complete by late 2017. Once operational, the wind farm will produce 175 MW of clean, renewable electricity which is enough to power 75,000 homes.

 

About White Rock Wind Farm

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  • White Rock Wind Farm (WRWF) located in the New England/Northern Tablelands region of NSW, approximately 20 kilometres West of Glen Innes and about 500 kilometres North of Sydney.
  • Project approval was granted by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure on 10 July 2012 for the construction and operation of up to 119 wind turbines in addition to related infrastructure.
  • The project will be staged with 70 turbines in the first stage. Construction completion is targeted for late 2017.
  • Once operational, the 175MW White Rock Wind Farm will generate enough renewable energy to service 75,000 homes.

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