It will supply government agency Antarctica New Zealand with three of its DW54X-1MW turbines, which have hub heights of 40 metres, and install them on Ross Island.
The turbines will be installed at the 0.99MW Ross Island project, about halfway between two research stations that are located a few kilometres apart. They will replace three existing 300kW machines.
The turbine supply deal comes as part of an extensive upgrade programme for Ross Island's energy system, which will see an existing flywheel storage system replaced with a battery energy storage system, a high-voltage network upgraded, and an existing diesel generator replaced.
Ross Island has an annual average temperature of -19.5C, with a coldest recorded temperature of -58.8C and warmest of +4.5C. It can only be reached during the summer, which runs from November until March, creating logistical difficulties, EWT explained.
A chartered vessel will transport the turbines to Ross Island in February or March 2024. The turbines will then be stored at a lay-down area. The first wind turbine will be installed in November or December 2024, and the other two in January or February 2026.
Since it will not be possible to pour concrete for the foundations at the site, the foundations for the wind turbines will be pre-constructed as so-called spider frame foundations: a combination of a large steel structure and precast concrete blocks. The foundations will also be shipped to the island and assembled at the site.
Antarctica New Zealand is the government agency charged with carrying out New Zealand’s activities in Antarctic.
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