The Vestas Renewable Energy Hub (VREH) will also consist of a service support centre and logistics and maintenance centre.
It will also provide technician training and contribute to a research partnership exploring the next generation of carbon fibre use in wind turbine blades.
Vestas has signed an agreement with GeelongPort to use its shipping facilities and 40,000m2 of laydown area as well.
The Danish firm’s wind turbine manufacturing facility will be capable of assembling 100 turbine hubs and 50 drive trains for the 181MW Berrybank and 336MW Dundonnell wind farms — both of which secured power off-take deals in Victoria’s first renewable energy auction in September.
Both projects must use 64% local content under the state government’s Victorian Industry Participation Policy.
Vestas will provide 43 of its V136-4.2MW turbines with a 112-metre hub height for Global Power Generation’s Berrybank site. A specific model has not yet been named for Tilt Renewable’s Dundonnell project.
Meanwhile, the manufacturer will maintain its fleet in Victoria from the Western Victoria Service Support Centre.
Vestas has also provided turbines for five other wind farms in Victoria with a combined capacity of 546MW. It is also supplying WestWind Energy’s 228MW Lal Lal project, which is under construction.
The Danish company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Federation University to support the training of at least 20 technicians per year at the Ballarat Renewable Training Centre.
Vestas has not given a schedule for construction and completion of the VREH, and has not stated when production will start at the manufacturing facility.
