ABOUT THE CLIENT
COLLECTOR WIND FARM HAS 226.8MW CAPACITY. IT WILL POTENTIALLY SAVE APPROXIMATELY 320,000 TONES OF CO2 EMISSIONS PER YEAR.
The Collector Wind Farm, with the potential to power some 80,000 homes, is one of three assets included in a new clean energy financing framework for RATCH-Australia Corporation.
Collector Wind Farm is the largest wind farm that RATCH-Australia has built in Australia. The wind farm’s 54 turbines produce 528GWh each year which is enough to power 80,000 average NSW homes.
RELATIONSHIP
Engaged by Vestas
The Collector Wind Farm saw the installation of 54 x Vestas V117 4.2Mw Wind Turbines. SBL Solutions held the Mechanical and Electrical Installation Contract and performed this work over a period of approximately 9 months during 2020. The project was described as very successful across all scopes of works amidst the challenges of COVID restrictions.
Successful completion of the project has resulted in the production of 226.8MW of clean energy which will potentially save 320,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year and power approximately 80,000 homes annually.
THE SOLUTION
THE COLLECTOR WIND FARM SAW THE INSTALLATION OF 54 X VESTAS V117 4.2MW WIND TURBINES.
The Collector Wind Farm saw the installation of 54 x Vestas V117 4.2Mw Wind Turbines. SBL Solutions held the Mechanical and Electrical Installation Contract and performed this work over a period of approximately 9 months during 2020. The project was described as very successful across all scopes of works amidst the challenges of COVID restrictions.
Successful completion of the project has resulted in the production of 226.8MW of clean energy which will potentially save 320,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year and power approximately 80,000 homes annually.
OPERATIONS
COLLECTOR WIND FARM IS NOW FULLY OPERATIONAL AND IS OPERATING AT FULL GENERATION.
RATCH-Australia is responsible for managing the overall performance of the wind farm. The day-to-day operations and management (O&M) is being undertaken by Vestas, who supplied and installed the 4.2MW turbines. The wind farm is forecast to generate around 528GWh per year on average. This is equivalent to powering roughly 80,000 NSW households based on the annual average electricity usage.
In order to maintain and operate the wind farm effectively, a number of programs and plans have been developed to protect the environment and reduce our impact on the community.
TIMELINE
- March 2020 – Wind turbine component deliveries commence.
- March 2020 – Cranes mobilised.
- April 2020 – Wind turbine erection commences.
- November 2020 – Wind turbine energisation.
- February 2021 – Wind farm commissioning commences.
- June 2021 – Commercial operation.
LOCATION
LOCATED ON THE CULLERIN RANGE BETWEEN THE HUME HIGHWAY AND THE COLLECTOR-GUNNING ROAD IN THE NSW SOUTHERN TABLELANDS.
The Collector Wind Farm is located on the Cullerin Range between the Hume Highway and the Collector-Gunning Road in the NSW Southern Tablelands.
This location was chosen because it is in one of the windiest regions in NSW (within one of six renewable energy precincts identified by the NSW Government).
There is a strong grid connection point to export the clean power generated.
The village of Collector is approximately 4km south-east from the nearest of the turbines.
The whole project site covers around 6,200 hectares, of which only around 75-100ha was disturbed during construction.
IMPACT
AUSTRALIA REQUIRES A SUBSTANTIAL UPLIFT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION AND STORAGE TO SUPPORT ITS TRANSITION TO A LOW EMISSIONS ECONOMY.
Australia requires a substantial uplift in renewable energy generation and storage to support its transition to a low emissions economy. AEMO has forecast that annual demand for grid electricity will double by 2050 and that investment in large-scale renewables will need to increase nine fold to help meet that requirement.
While the Australian wind sector is considered mature, further investment faces emerging barriers including supply chain constraints, increased interest rates and escalating raw materials and transportation costs.
GENERATION POTENTIAL
THE COLLECTOR WIND FARM IS LOCATED ALONG THE CULLERIN RIDGE, SOUTH-WEST OF GOULBURN IN THE SOUTHERN TABLELANDS, WHICH HAS SOME OF THE WINDIEST CONDITIONS IN NSW.
The Collector Wind Farm is located along the Cullerin Ridge, south-west of Goulburn in the Southern Tablelands, which has some of the windiest conditions in NSW.
With 54 wind turbines, the project is expected to generate 528 GWh of energy annually, which is enough to meet the needs of some 80,000 average homes. It has the potential to abate some 9.3 million tCO2-e over its lifetime.
Vestas uses innovative drone and 3D imaging technology to deliver routine blade maintenance and data collection for the wind farm.
The wind farm opened in November 2022, having reached full generation in February 2021 as one of the first in Australia to use the 4.2 MW V117 Vestas turbines.
“This new wind farm is an important step in Australia’s journey to decarbonisation and we are very proud to be able to produce clean, cheap energy for the market.” – Palagorn Kheosiplard, CEO, RATCH-Australia.
CONTACT SBL SOLUTIONS
Get in touch with SBL Solutions today. Our business’ number one priority is customising our clients’ s to provide the best possible solutions and outcomes for any given scenario. If you’d like to know more about us and our services, simply contact us to start the experience of Australia’s largest and leading service provider in the industry.