A massive 91-tonne transformer has been delivered to Meridian Energy’s West Wind Farm near Mākara on Wellington’s west coast in a carefully planned early morning operation.
Meridian says the operation was a feat of logistics that required four specialist haulage units to tackle Wellington’s steep and winding terrain and provide “some serious grunt”.
“Thanks to some meticulous planning and hard graft, the team got the new transformer to site, removed the old transformer, and slid the new one into place. All in a day’s work,” the company says.
The transformer was transported from Wellington Port in the early hours of September 10, with the heavy load negotiating Wellington’s narrow streets and the Karori Tunnel before reaching the wind farm site.
Meridian credited Move Logistics Group’s specialist lifting and machinery transport division for completing the challenging manoeuvre.
“It was a tight squeeze through Karori Tunnel in the early hours,” the company says.
“A big thanks to the team at Move Logistics Group for some skilful navigation through Wellington’s steep and winding streets.”
The 91-tonne transformer, measuring 7.56m long, 4m high and 3.5m wide, replaces one of two units at the 62-turbine West Wind Farm. Together, the transformers process enough electricity to power around 73,000 homes.
