The construction of the R3.5-billion Loeriesfontein wind farm, in the Northern Cape, has passed another milestone, with the lifting of the first of 61 wind turbines completed.
It takes a day to lift the 100-m-tall wind turbines – assuming the weather is favourable and the first two sections of the tower have been erected – with the three 53 m blades connected to the rotor at ground level before being lifted to the top of the turbine tower.
“The process of constructing the turbines requires two cranes to work simultaneously; the lifting of the massive 108-m-diameter rotor requires great skill and is a really impressive manoeuvre to watch,” said Loeriesfontein wind farm project manager Leo Quinn.
The heaviest component is the nacelle, which contains the generator and gearbox and weighs 82.5 t.
The next major construction milestone will be the arrival of the main transformer and the energisation of the substation.
Siemens Wind Power, along with subcontractors Fairwind and BMS are responsible for the installation of the wind turbine generators.