Mammoet has handled 28 Vestas EnVentus V162-5.6 MW wind turbines for Neoen’s Kaban green power hub in North Queensland, Australia.
Tasked with offloading, preassembly and main installation for the turbines – the first of their kind in Australia – Mammoet had to overcome challenges posed by the remote nature of the site, with narrow access roads and steep slopes, while also prioritising safety, operational efficiency and minimising the project’s carbon footprint.
Once assembled, the turbines stood at a height of 226 m.
Firstly, Mammoet utilised a Terex Demag AC700 crane for the combined offloading and preassembly scope. This 700-tonne lifting capacity hydraulic crane was engineered to set up in a single optimal position, which enabled a two-stage offloading process with intermediate preassembly. This approach decreased the number of teams required onsite from three to two, and minimised crane movements needed between lifts, resulting in significant time and cost savings, the company explained.
Then, an LG 1750SX, equipped with a 151 m main boom and 12 m fixed fly, was deployed to lift the powertrains, each weighing 92 tonnes, to a hub height of 149 m.
A fleet of Scheuerle SPMTs and Goldhofer THP multi-axle trailers were used to manoeuvre 400 tonnes of superlift counterweight at once, supporting the LG1750 installation, and up to 280 tonnes of counterweight during on-site relocations. “This method not only accelerated operations but also reduced the number of truck and trailer trips, ultimately minimising the project’s carbon footprint,” said Mammoet.
Located in the Atherton Tablelands, Neoen’s Kaban power hub aims to harness the region’s abundant wind resources to contribute to Queensland’s target of 50 percent renewable electricity by 2030.
