The port of Port Kembla has reaffirmed its role as a critical trade gateway and a major import hub for large renewable energy projects with the arrival of the first shipment of components for the Bango Wind Farm in the Southern Tablelands of NSW this month.
In total, 46 of General Electric’s (GE) Cypress 5.3 Megawatt (MW) turbines will be imported through Port Kembla over the next six months.
The wind turbine components will be stored on berth at the AAT facility before being transported by truck by heavy haulage operator, Rex J Andrews to the project site, which is located roughly 30 kilometres north of Yass in NSW.
Upon arrival at the construction site, each turbine will be assembled to its full height of 125 metres.
The Bango Wind Farm is one of many renewable energy developments under construction across NSW as the State Government pushes towards net zero-emission energy by 2050.
NSW Ports CEO, Marika Calfas, said Port Kembla is a leader in the handling of large and heavy project cargo and is proud to play a role in these important renewable energy projects.
“Port Kembla’s AAT facility is equipped with hardstand and specialised equipment, machinery, cargo handling expertise and has ample on-dock storage capability.”
“We are proud to work with our partners in the supply chain to support these important renewable energy projects for our state. With the addition of the Bango wind turbines, Port Kembla will have helped facilitate the import of 274 wind turbines for nine wind farms in NSW,” she said.
“This important trade is only possible because of the work of stevedores and specialist heavy haul logistics providers, who have the complex task of discharging the oversized cargo from the vessel and transporting them to the wind farms across regional NSW.”
Once complete, the Bango Wind Farm promises to deliver capacity of 244MW – generating enough energy to power more than 100,000 homes* and save over 600,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
*Based on an average NSW household electricity consumption of 7.3 MWh annually.