The $588 million 270MW Sapphire Wind Farm between Inverell and Glen Innes is now becoming a reality after nine years in the planning.
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As one of three new wind farms being constructed between Inverell and Glen Innes, Sapphire Wind Farm is set to be the largest capacity wind farm in New South Wales with the tallest turbines in Australia.
Also being constructed is White Rock Wind Farm, 40km east of Inverell and the smaller Glen Innes Wind Farm. Sapphire Wind Farm is just 28km east of Inverell.
Work on the large-scale renewable energy project started in January this year with the site office and several access roads already constructed.
The current projected completion time is July next year, with the turbine deliveries and installations set to begin this October.
Overseeing the construction site, CWP’s Bill Filby said local landowners would have already noticed activity along Waterloo and the Western Feeder Roads with civil works the main priority over the next few months.
We’re committed to involving the community at every stage and it’s pleasing that we’ve already had feedback about our well-considered approach.
- Bill Filby
“We’re committed to involving the community at every stage and it’s pleasing that we’ve already had feedback about our well-considered approach,” Bill said.
“Our focus over recent months has been to work closely with landowners to manage the increase in traffic and minimise any dust resulting from earthworks.”
“Our turbines will start arriving later in the year but it’s interesting to see turbines for the nearby White Rock Wind Farm currently being transported up to the south of the Gwydir Highway.
Sapphire Wind Farm is located to the north of the Gwydir Highway and will comprise 75 Vestas V126, 3.6MW wind turbines.
Australian renewable energy company, CWP is overseeing the project’s construction and operations with leading wind energy company Vestas and EPC company Zenviron delivering the project’s turbines and electrical and civil components, and TransGrid building the onsite substation.
The farm has a 20 year contract to the ACT government to supply 100MW of renewable energy in order to help the city reach its ambitious target of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2020.