Portland wind turbine
Portland was the first Australian city to achieve net-zero-plus emissions from locally generated renewable power at its water and sewage treatment facilities when we commissioned a wind turbine in 2020.
The issue
Portland’s water is supplied from aquifers more than 1,200 metres beneath the ground. The energy required to extract, cool, treat and deliver this water, as well as process the city’s industrial and residential sewage and wastewater is significant.
We’re working to lower those costs to provide better outcomes for our customers and for our environment. We’ve pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
The detail
The turbine is an Enercon E48 Wind-Energy-Convertor. The E48 uses a direct-drive design, where a permanent magnet generator is combined with a rotating hub. This provides optimal energy flow, minimal maintenance and a long service life.
The tower is 50 metres high with a diameter that tapers from 3.7 metres at its base to 3.5 metres at the top. Each blade spans 24 metres.
Construction work involved more than 16 tonnes of steel reinforcement, 288 tonnes of foundation concrete, a foundation basket (anchor bolts template) weighing 2.6 tonne, and 10 reinforced concrete bored piles that are each 20 metres deep and 750 millimetres in diameter.
The project was managed by our project team based in Warrnambool. While the turbine generator and blades were made in Germany, local Portland businesses supported much of the work.
The tower was constructed locally by the specialised staff at Keppel Prince from Australian Bluescope steel. The foundations and civil work was completed by local Portland specialists GR Carr, and the electrical fit-out and maintenance is undertaken by local operators Laser Electrical.
Benefits
The project capitalises on Portland’s world-class wind resources to produce renewable energy for the treatment facilities, It also helps meet the challenges of climate change, and enhances the city’s reputation as a renewable energy hub.
The project will help reduce carbon emissions by an average of 2,500 tonnes a year.
The project also supported regional economic growth and prosperity with local companies helping during construction and in ongoing maintenance needs.
Portland community
