planned installed capacity of the Mount Emerald wind farm near Mareeba in Queensland, the first large-scale wind farm to be built in the state.

of electricity will be generated each year.

approximate number of households that can be powered by the farm each year.

estimated reduction in GHG emissions once the farm is operational - equivalent to taking approximately 100,000 cars off the road.

hectares of land will be used for the wind farm. The proposed site is on private land on the plateau adjacent to Mt Emerald/ Springmount area, approx ½ way between Mareeba and Atherton.

wind turbines will be used (although approval has been obtained for 63). 37 Vestas v117-3.45 and 16 Vestas v112-3.3 will be used. Towers will be approx 80-90 m high with approximately 50 m blades, utilising 3 MW machines.

major organizations involved. Project Developer: Equal partnership between Ratch Australia Corporation and Port Bajool Pty Ltd, EPC and O&M: Vestas, Distribution: Ergon Energy. Major EPC subcontractors include Consolidated Power Projects (CPP) and Civil & Allied Technical Construction (Catcon).

estimated project cost. The project will receive finance from ABZ, NAB, Societe Generale and the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFJ).

peak jobs created during construction phase including 130 locals, while more than 20 suppliers have been contracted from the wider Cairns region over the course of construction.

FTE during operational phase.

Planned commissioning of the farm.

Amount that community groups and schools within 50 km of the farm will receive each year during the life of the project.

Financial closure secured. Downer Group and Vestas were awarded contracts for EPC and O&M respectively.

Minor works, geotech studies and site survey work scheduled to begin. Full construction likely to begin ramping up from March 2017 after the wet season.

81 wind turbine blades arrive at Cairns Port from Texas, USA

Number of cargo vessels containing blades, towers and more than 450 components will transit through the Port of Cairns, during the life of the project's construction, totalling an estimated 185,000 revenue tonnes of cargo. The shipments represent the largest ever handled by the Port.

Project’s first delivery of components made their way from the port to the site.

First turbine installed.

6 turbines raised. Another 11 are partially erected while 43 concrete foundations have been poured.

1st of the 44 turbines which have been completed commences generating electricity and sending it into the grid.

Final turbine being raised. Each wind turbine is 84-90m tall and the blades are 57m long!