PROJECT/

Sapphire Wind Farm

Overview

Project name

Sapphire Wind Farm

Date

2018

Location

18KM WEST OF GLEN INNES

Client

SAPPHIRE WIND FARM

Website

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Case Study

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75
Wind Turbines
270 MW
Maximum Capacity
115,000
Homes Powered from the Wind Farm in Australia
ABOUT THE CLIENT
The Sapphire Wind Farm provides clean energy to 115,000 homes and displaces 700,000 tonnes of C02 each year.

Sapphire Wind Farm is located on Ngarabal Country, 18 km west of Glen Innes, in the New England region of northern NSW. It is the largest operational wind farm in New South Wales and has helped the ACT Government meet its target of 100% renewables in 2020 by providing a long term power purchase agreement.

The Sapphire Wind Farm provides clean energy to 115,000 homes and displaces 700,000 tonnes of C02 each year.

The wind farm has helped to create 259 direct jobs, has an annual output of 764 GWH and partners with ACT Government, Commonwealth Bank, Flow Power, Fujitsu, Nestle and Transurban.

THE SOLUTION
SBL Solutions installed 74 Vestas wind turbine generators.

SBL Solutions held the mechanical and electrical Installation scope of works on this construction project which saw the installation of 74 Vestas V126 Wind Turbine Generators.

COMMUNITY

SAPPHIRE COMMUNITY FUND GIVING $3.75M BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

The Community Fund is one of Sapphire Wind Farm’s commitments to give back to the community in a tangible and long-term way. The fund is split between the Inverell Shire Council and the Glenn Innes Severn Council based on the number of turbines installed in each area.

Two of the seventy-five turbines are in the Glenn Innes Severn Council area. Sapphire Wind Farm contributes $5k annually to the Glenn Innes Council community fund. The remaining annual contribution of $182.5k is allocated to the S355 Sapphire Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund set up for the Inverell local government area which is administrated by the Inverell Shire Council.

TIMELINE

Project Identification and site selection

Development application and environmental impact statement

Post approval, contracting and financing

Early works and design

Wind turbine erection

Operations

THE LOCATION
Sapphire Wind Farm is located in the Kings Plains area of New South Wales.

Sapphire Wind Farm is located in the Kings Plains area of New South Wales, 18 kilometres west of Glen Innes and 28 kilometres east of Inverell, New South Wales.

IMPACT

BENEFITS

RURAL FIRE SERVICE FIRE SHED

Sapphire Wind Farm has been fortunate to be able to work together with the RFS on multiple occasions for tasks such as developing emergency response plans, training drills and controlled hazard reduction burns.

SUN PROTECTION FOR ELSMORE HALL KIDS

Elsmore Hall saw a huge upgrade in 2020 thanks in part to funding from Sapphire Wind Farm and the Federal Government. A magnificent new playground, seating area and solar panels were added, with Sapphire providing extra budget to purchase and install shade sails to ensure sun safety.

EKKA JUNIOR JUDGING AND CATTLE SHOWING

In August 2022, Sapphire Wind Farm sponsored the students at Macintyre High School Inverell, Inverell High School, Holy Trinity School Inverell and Glen Innes High School to visit and compete in the annual Ekka (Royal Queensland Show).

INVESTMENT

Pioneering Australia’s first, large-scale, public, community investment into a utility-scale wind farm.

The project is pioneering Australia’s first, large-scale, public, community investment into a utility-scale wind farm. The Sapphire Wind Farm Community Co-investment allows members of the local community to invest in the Sapphire Wind Farm.

“BETWEEN THE SAPPHIRE WIND/SOLAR FARM AND THE WHITE ROCK WIND/ SOLAR FARM, PLUS THE GLEN INNES WIND FARM, THIS SMALL AREA WILL BECOME ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLEXES OF RENEWABLE POWER IN AUSTRALIA OR ELSEWHERE.”
The Inverell Times

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Vision, Mission & Values

Vision

Our vision is to provide the highest standard of service in the industry, with an emphasis on safety and quality.

Mission

To assist the onshore and offshore wind industry as one of the main sources of renewable energy by delivering more efficient and sustainable wind energy solutions.

Values

  • Continual improvement
  • Reliability
  • Authenticity
  • Communication
  • Accountability

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Find out how SBL Solutions can deliver your renewable energy efficiently, safely, and at the highest quality

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