A small but mighty King Island wind turbine, which has alone produced more 10,000 MWh of clean electricity since being installed more than two decades ago, will receive a life-extending makeover this month.

Turbine number two, one of three smaller 250kW Nordex machines that began generating in 1998, will be fitted with a replacement nacelle, which is the main body of a turbine that sits atop the tower.

The week-long operation, which will involve a crane being brought on-site at Huxley Hill to lift the new nacelle into place, also provides the opportunity to repair the surface of the turbine’s three blades where they have degraded.

Simon van der Aa, Specialist Electrical Engineer at Hydro Tasmania, said the work would be carried out by Hydro Tasmania’s specialist engineering consulting business, Entura, and begin on 27 February.

“Turbine number two has been out of service for around fifteen months, as it takes longer to procure the required parts for this type of older turbine,” Mr van der Aa said.

“Since 1998, the wind farm has produced an estimated 120,000 MWh of renewable power for King Island. The new nacelle should provide turbine number two with another 10 to 15 years of generating life.”

The King Island wind farm has a total capacity 2450kW, and is comprised of the three smaller Nordex machines, and two larger Vestas turbines installed in 2003.

Entura Specialist Engineer Renewable Energy, Andrew Wright, said the turbine’s old nacelle would not be sent to the retirement home, but instead keep contributing to a cleaner world by being recycled.

“The old alternator will be returned to Denmark for the supplier to refurbish for the next customer, while other equipment that can be salvaged for spares will be held at the power station on King Island,” Mr Wright said.

“Work is currently underway to determine the best course of action to maintain or replace the other four wind turbines, to continue to extend their life.”

Ends.

Released for Hydro Tasmania by Duncan Abey / 0409 722 359/ media@hydro.com.au