Collett & Sons has successfully completed delivery of all 90 wind turbine components to Cushaling Wind Farm in Ireland, working on behalf of Vestas.
All components including nine nacelles, hubs and power trains, 36 tower sections and 27 blades were stored and loaded from port of Waterford, Ireland. This included the record-breaking 80 m-long blades, the longest onshore turbine blades ever delivered in the history of the Ireland and the UK, said Collett.
Collett utilised its latest renewable energy fleet addition, the blade adapter trailer (also known as the clamp and dolly system), to transport the blades. This design by trailer manufacturer Doll, also used for the first time in Ireland and the UK, provides improved ground clearance, enhanced manoeuvrability and greater stability compared to its standard super-wing carrier trailers, it said. The blade adaptor requires 2 m less space for turning at bends than a 65 m platform trailer, ensuring safer driving with high centres of gravity.
The power trains hubs were transported on eight and six-axle steerable trailers respectively, while the nacelle components were delivered using its 3-7 Nooteboom clamps. All tower sections were transported using the Nooteboom clamps.
All components, except the blades, were transported directly from port to site, following a 295 km route. Undertaking nighttime deliveries in order to minimise road traffic disruption, the route took approximately 10 hours including a rest break along the M4. Due to the blades’ length, distance and complexity of the route, a different route was utilised and spread over two nights.
En-route to the wind farm, Collett had to complete several complex manoeuvres. A three-point turn was performed at R402 just before Georges Bridge. The junction required several amendments which included tree trimming and a purpose-built turning head created off the R402 to enable the vehicles to drive onto the R401. A second three-point turn was performed further down the R401 to facilitate entry into the site.
Preliminary works included a test run from port to site, using a super wing carrier trailer with 11 m rear projection to mimic the actual blade transportation and 93 m total vehicle length.
This identified the requirement of road widening, removal of street furniture and tree trimmings along the route. Temporary infrastructure adjustments, road closures, and contraflow systems were implemented to accommodate the blades’ dimensions. These measures were necessary in the Ballinagar and Daingean villages, where blades had to carefully over-sail steel bollards and traffic islands were removed to ensure safe passage. Traffic management and police escort arrangements were made throughout to ensure a safe delivery.
Upon arrival at the site, each component was delivered to its respective pad. Whilst onsite, Collett navigated multiple pinch points including a bridge located between pads three and four several times in the process of delivering the necessary components.
Jack Collett, renewables director at Collett & Sons, said: “Cushaling was an extremely challenging and technically difficult project, especially managing this size of blades in nighttime delivery conditions. However, we’ve come through the other side and delivered the project successfully which is a tremendous achievement. Our blade adapter trailers have been a game-changer in allowing us to transport the longest onshore blades to date on land across Ireland and the UK.
