Crudine Ridge Wind Farm...Wind Turbine Generator’s. GE will provide ongoing monitoring, operation...
Transcript of Crudine Ridge Wind Farm...Wind Turbine Generator’s. GE will provide ongoing monitoring, operation...
Construction Milestones
Aarons Pass Road
Upgrade. Work will recommence on Aarons Pass Road when the modification to the Development Consent is approved.
First Components Arrive. Components for the wind farm will begin to arrive in Newcastle early in 2019. The first major component to arrive will be the transformer for the Sub Station. Turbine components are due to arrive in Newcastle Harbour in March 2019. They will arrive on site once Aarons Pass Road has been upgraded and preparatory works are completed.
Community Consultative
Committee The Community Consultative Committee (CCC) was dissolved late last year by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment. A new Chair has been appointed for the new Community Consultative Committee. Michael Silver OAM is taking over in 2019 from Lisa Andrews. We are hopeful that the new CCC will be operating shortly. We look forward to working with the new Chair and members to update the community and provide a further communications avenue.
Getting Involved. Community opportunities
Improving the local economy
The Crudine Ridge Wind Farm has
already begun to have a positive
impact on the local economy. Already
over $3 million worth of local contracts
have been awarded within the
Mudgee area.
As construction ramps up over 200
jobs will be created. From experience
on previous wind farm projects CWP
anticipates that a significant number
of locals will be employed.
Local service industries will feel the
increase in business as worker
numbers increase. Register here:
https://www.crudineridge.icn.org.au/
Local Opportunities
There are a number of opportunities
for involvement in the Project, both in
the short-term during construction and
the long term during operations.
During construction there are
employment opportunities available
from administration to plant operators
to steel fixers and concreters.
Longer term the Crudine Ridge Wind
Farm has entered into Voluntary
Planning Agreements with both Mid
Western Regional and Bathurst
Councils to provide over $160,000 for
community projects for every year that
the Project is operating.
Crudine Ridge Wind Farm
Crudine Ridge Wind Farm
34 Thynne Street,
Bruce, ACT 2617,
Project Director’s
Welcome Hi Everybody
Welcome to our first newsletter. In this
issue we’ll cover the current state of
works on site, the modification
process, community benefits and a
few facts about wind farms.
We hope that you find these quarterly
newsletters informative. Their purpose
is not only to provide you with
information on construction progress,
delivery of major components and key
milestones but also what the project is
doing in the wider community,
educational programs, sponsorship
and investments.
Myself and my team are always
available to answer any questions or
concerns you may have, and we look
forward to getting construction
underway again later this year.
Brendan McAvoy
Project Director
Construction Update
2018 saw the project move into the
construction phase and works
commence on site, unfortunately
works on the key Aarons Pass Road
were slowed due to administrative
issues with the Development Consent
with work being put on hold across
the whole project site.
To ensure there was consistency
across all the project developments a
modification to the Development
Consent was submitted in December
2018.
Submissions to the modification by
the local community, especially those
who live within 50km of the project
were heavily supportive with 76% in
favour, with improvements to the
safety along Aarons Pass Road a key
theme.
The assessment of the modification will
now be made by the DPE and an
Independent Planning Commission
process will need to be followed to
determine the outcome of the
modification.
continued on P2.
Construction Update
Crudine Ridge Wind Farm. Community Newsletter
January 2019
www.crudineridgewindfarm.com.au
Aarons
Pass
Road
Update
Meet the
contractors
Wind
Farm
Myths
Selling our
Power
this issue
Contact Us www.crudineridgewindfarm.com.au Find us on Facebook @crudineridgewndfarm
Tel: 1300 524 463
Email: [email protected]
CWP Renewables
Wind Farms
CWP Renewables is a
leading renewable energy
developer, owner and asset
manager with full project
life-cycle expertise. Our
team holds a wealth of
experience in the
renewable energy sector,
accumulated through the
successful delivery of
projects in Europe and
Australia.
We develop and own utility-
scale renewable energy
facilities incorporating wind,
solar and storage
technologies, oversee
project delivery and
commissioning, and provide
long-term operational asset
management services.
Our unique approach to
own and manage each
project from inception
through to full operation
ensures genuine
engagement with all
stakeholders at every stage
of development.
www.cwprenewables.com
AARONS PASS ROAD UPGRADE AND MODIFICATION TO APPROVAL
In August 2018, the
Project commenced works
on Aarons Pass Road
after securing a Section
138 approval from Mid-
Western Regional Council.
Since then, further design
work has been undertaken
to ensure the safety of all
road users during delivery
of over-dimensional
equipment to the Project
entrance.
The works are based on a
series of designs which
have been developed in
consultation with Council
and the landowners along
Aarons Pass Road over
two years.
Zenviron
Zenviron is a joint venture
between Zem Energy and
Monadelphous.
Zenviron is a full-service
balance-of-plant
contractor providing
engineering, procurement
and construction services.
Zenviron is responsible
for the design and
construction of public road
upgrades, service
facilities, civils, WTG
foundations, collector
circuits and turbine
erection
GE
GE is one of the world’s
leading suppliers of power
generation technologies.
More than 25% of the
world’s electricity is
produced using GE power
generation equipment.
GE is responsible for
designing, manufacturing
and testing /
commissioning of the
Wind Turbine
Generator’s.
GE will provide ongoing
monitoring, operation and
maintenance of the wind
farm.
5 FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
The designs build on the
Project’s Traffic
Management Plan which
was approved in December
2017.
In December 2018
CRWF lodged
an application to
modify the NSW
Project approval
for two reasons:
• To reduce the number
of wind turbine
generators (WTGs)
from 77 to 37; and
• To align the Aarons
Pass Road design
across all approvals.
1 2 3 4 5
Site Progress continued from page 1
Plant and equipment have been
removed from site whilst the
modification is progressing and only
minor maintenance and
environmental/safety works will
continue over the next few months.
The timeframes for the resolution of
the modification are not clear at the
moment. We are hoping that a
favourable decision will made by
MEET OUR CONTRACTORS
The removal of 40 turbines
will result in significantly
reduced impacts in terms of
visual, noise, biodiversity
and heritage values.
The proposed
changes will
result in 36ha
less vegetation
being cleared.
This is a reduction of 35%.
Aarons Pass Road is the
primary transport route for all
over-dimensional Project
components.
The revised design will
enhance visibility and
increase safe passing
opportunities.
continued Page 3
80% of Aarons Pass
Road residents
supported Modification
What about embedded
Energy?
The Journal Renewable Energy
reviewed data from 119 turbines
across 50 sites going back 30
years. They concluded that the
average "energy payback" of a
turbine was 3-6 months, compared
to a lifetime of around 25 years.
GEZ Consortium
Together, Zenviron and
General Electric have
formed a consortium
(GEZ) to deliver the
EPC Contract for the
Crudine Ridge Wind
Farm Project. The GEZ
Consortium has been
engaged to undertake
the design,
procurement,
construction and
commissioning of the
wind farm that consists
of the Balance of Plant
(BoP) and Wind
Turbine Generators
(WTG).
WHO WE ARE
Power generated
Wind farms generate energy
about 75-85% of the time. They
start generating when the wind
is 12.5km/h which is enough to
rustle the leaves.
Are Turbines Noisy?
As with most mechanical plant,
wind turbines produce noise –
but modern turbine designs have
reduced the noise levels. The
limit for noise from a turbine in
NSW is 35dBA at the nearest
neighbour. A car passing you
on the road is over 65dBA
Wind farms have a clean bill of
health
More than 17 independent and
peer-reviewed studies have
shown turbines do not affect
health—that of humans, animals
or even earthworms
Windfarms are animal friendly
There is no evidence that livestock
are adversely impacted by wind
Farms. Likewise, there is no
evidence that turbines cause
miscarriages in livestock
Source: NSW Office of Environment,
Climate Change and Water; Wind Energy
in Australia, Myths and Facts
June 2019. Following that we will
recommence construction beginning
with Aarons Pass Road.
There is still some activity on site
with a small maintenance crew from
Zenviron maintaining the
environmental works. This will
ensure that if we have more
significant rain events like the ones
over the last few weeks the site is
prepared.
In addition to the works crew there
are a few of Zenviron’s Project team
on site as well as representatives
from CWP. If you use Aarons Pass
Road in the morning and afternoons
there may be a little extra traffic and
turn on your UHF radio to channel 20
if you have one.
We'll let you know when site work
recommences, at which stage we will
also be reinstalling traffic controls
during the morning and afternoon
school bus times.
Component delivery to Sapphire Wind Farm 2018
SUMMARY OF PUBLIC RESPONSES TO DEVELOPMENT MODIFICATION
Over 230 submissions from members of the public were received, as well as seven organisations.
• Approximately 56% were in support of the Modification,
• 41% opposed the Modification and
• 3% provided comment.
Embedded Energy
DOES BUILDING A WIND
TURBINE USE MORE
ENERGY THAN IT
PRODUCES?
A wind turbine typically takes
only a few months to ‘pay
back’ the energy needed for its
fabrication, installation,
operation and
decommissioning.
The NSW Rural Wind Farm
Inquiry Committee found the
evidence demonstrated that
modern wind farms typically
generate the energy used in
construction within three to
seven months of operation,
with the operational lifetime of
a turbine being at least 20
years.
Source: NSW Office of
Environment, Climate Change
and Water; Wind Energy in
Australia, Myths and Facts
“Glen Maye” has 674 ha of
unique vegetation
communities and native
species. This together
with its proximity to the
Project makes it an ideal
offset property.
In order to achieve long
term lasting conservation
outcomes CWP will be
entering into a Biodiversity
Stewardship Agreement
with the NSW State
Government.
The Agreement is a legally
binding document which is
registered on Title and
sets out a 20-year
management plan for
“Glen Maye”.
The Agreement covers a
range of management
activities with a strong
emphasis on fire, weed
and pest management.
The management of “Glen
Maye” is fully funded for
the next 20 years.
Through the
implementation of the
Biodiversity Stewardship
Agreement there will be
enhance conservation
outcomes within the
region.
HOW A WIND FARM WORKS: BE SOONER THAN
YOU THINK
Myth Busted
VEGETATION OFFSETS EXPLAINED
Native vegetation clearing
is tightly controlled in
NSW via the Biodiversity
Conservation Act 2016
(BCA).
The Crudine Ridge Wind
Farm will clear around 74
ha of native vegetation as
defined by the BCA.
In order to offset the
impact of this clearing
CWP has purchased a
nearby property, “Glen
Maye”.
Sapphire Wind Farm 2018
The project will build:
• 50km of new internal access roads,
• 37 hardstands
• a new sub station
• over 40km of internal underground and overhead powerlines to connect the turbines to the substation,
• temporary construction compounds,
• onsite concrete batching plant,
• an operations and maintenance facility
• significant upgrades to Aarons Pass Road
The project is committed
to minimise impacts on the
local community. One of
the ways we are doing this
is by sourcing the majority
of gravel and aggregates
on site.
This will significantly
reduce the number of
trucks travelling along the
local roads.
Once we begin hauling
turbine components to
site, we will update our
Facebook and webpages
weekly with transport
news.
OVERVIEW OF THE CRUDINE RIDGE WIND FARM
The Crudine Ridge Wind
Farm is located 45km
south of Mudgee bordered
by the Aarons Pass Road
to the North and Sallys
Flat Road to the South.
A total of 37 wind turbines
each with a tip height of
160 m will be installed on
site.
The turbines for the
project are a GE 3.63MW.
A new substation and over
15km of transmission line
will be constructed to
connect to the grid. These
assets will be owned and
operated by TransGrid.
Once operational, Crudine
Ridge Wind Farm will
provide enough power for
around 55,000 homes.
The wind farm will
contribute over $160,000
every year to community
projects.
The project will build:
• 50km of new internal access roads,
• 37 hardstands
• a new sub station
• over 40km of internal underground and overhead powerlines to connect the turbines to the substation,
• temporary construction compounds,
• onsite concrete batching plant,
• an operations and maintenance facility
• significant upgrades to Aarons Pass Road
The project is committed
to minimise impacts on the
local community. One of
the ways we are doing this
is by sourcing the majority
of gravel and aggregates
on site.
This will significantly
reduce the number of
trucks travelling along the
local roads.
Once we begin hauling
turbine components to
site, we will update our
Facebook and webpages
weekly with transport
news.
Construction hours
Site works will take place during approved construction hours:
Monday to Friday: 7:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday: 8.00am – 1.00pm
At certain times work may be undertaken outside these construction hours, which will be subject to project approvals.
Crudine Wind Farm aims to keep interruptions to the local community to a minimum, Information regarding construction activities are
provided on our website and Facebook Page.
The Crudine Ridge Wind
Farm is located 45km
south of Mudgee bordered
by the Aarons Pass Road
to the North and Sallys
Flat Road to the South.
A total of 37 wind turbines
each with a tip height of
160 m will be installed on
site.
The turbines for the
project are a GE 3.63MW.
A new substation and over
15km of transmission line
will be constructed to
connect to the grid. These
assets will be owned and
operated by TransGrid.
Meet the CWP Team
Tony Igo Project Manager
Scott Pagett Site Representative
Brendan McAvoy Project Director
Embedded Energy
DOES BUILDING A WIND
TURBINE USE MORE
ENERGY THAN IT
PRODUCES?
A wind turbine typically takes
only a few months to ‘pay
back’ the energy needed for its
fabrication, installation,
operation and
decommissioning.
The NSW Rural Wind Farm
Inquiry Committee found the
evidence demonstrated that
modern wind farms typically
generate the energy used in
construction within three to
seven months of operation,
with the operational lifetime of
a turbine being at least 20
years.
Source: NSW Office of
Environment, Climate Change
and Water; Wind Energy in
Australia, Myths and Facts
Sydney Airport has signed an
eight-year power purchase
agreement (PPA) with CWP
Renewables and Origin Energy
in a deal advised by Allens.
Under the deal, the Sapphire
Wind Farm and Crudine Ridge
Wind Farm will supply Sydney
Airport with renewable energy
at a fixed price.
The Sapphire Wind Farm is a
273 megawatt wind farm
located near Glen Innes in
regional NSW. The Crudine
Ridge Wind Farm is a 134
megawatt wind farm located
south of Mudgee in Central
West NSW.
HOW WE SELL OUR POWER
Myth Busted
The PPA is part of Sydney
Airport's commitment to
lower its car bon footprint
and is one of a number of
steps towards its targeted
50 per cent reduction in
carbon intensity by 2025.
Electricity contracted under
the agreement represents
up to 75 per cent of Sydney
Airport's electricity
consumption.
The PPA is backed up by
Origin, who will provide
firming electricity to Sydney
Airport under an electricity
supply agreement.
In addition to the Sydney
Airport PPA CWP
Renewables have
negotiated Agreements
with Meridian Energy
Australia to supply 50% of
the output from the Project.
This PPA will support the
growth of Meridian’s retail
business Powershop, which
is Australia’s greenest
energy retailer.
Meridian anticipate that the
PPA will allow them to
lower their retail power
price by up to 5%. This will
provide significant benefits
to their customers.
In all 10 submissions were received
from owners of residences on Aarons
Pass Road, and 80% supported the
proposed Modification because of the
improved road safety.
CRWF is currently preparing a
Response to Submissions that
addresses all issues raised in the
submissions. The response will be
lodged with NSW Department of
Planning and Environment in February
.
DPE will review our response and all
submissions and do their assessment
The Independent Planning Commission (IPC)
will review the DPE’s assessment and may
hold a public meeting or hearing.
The IPC will then make a determination on
whether to approve the Modification.
Once an approval is granted for the
Modification, the improvements to Aarons
Pass Road will commence.
Once the road works are completed then
work will recommence on Site.
Aarons Pass Road continued from page 2
The Improvements to the road alignment
and condition will provide a safer
roadway for all users during Project
construction and for years to come.
There will be approximately 5 ha of
additional vegetation removal along
Aarons Pass Road.
The Modification was on public exhibition
for two weeks from 5 – 19 December
2018. Over 230 submissions were
received.
Sapphire Wind Farm 2018
Tony is a professional engineer with extensive experience in large infrastructure project management within Australia/NZ and internationally (UK, Sub-Saharan Africa, Former Soviet Union, Asia-Pacific). Tony is based in our Canberra office and is our Project Manager for project construction and commissioning.
Scott is the Site Representative for the Project. I’m, responsible for the site management and coordination of our contractors Scott oversees construction activities and ensures works is being undertaken in accordance with the Contract.
Brendan is an experienced Executive and Chartered Mechanical Engineer with significant experience in infrastructure, construction, heavy engineering and renewables. He has delivered projects within the UK and Australia.