The Kidston pumped storage hydro project in North Queensland has passed another milestone with the underground installation of two 275kV transformers.
A 250-tonne crawler crane was used to lift each transformer onto a self-propelled modular trailer for the 1.8km journey down the site’s main access tunnel into the transformer hall.
It was a significant step Genex Power project director Tony Ford said.
“Installing the transformers underground allows the connection of the HV cable to the surface switchyard and, once that’s done, essentially you’re in a position to connect with the grid. So it’s quite a milestone,” Mr Ford said.
“Following the installation of the HV cables is the completion of the terminations and then the testing and commissioning for energisation with the Powerlink 275kv transmission line constructed as part of the hydro project.”
Each transformer weighed about 120 tonnes during transportation and about 177 tonnes when installed and filled with oil, he said.
They will step up the voltage from the underground generator from 16.5kV to 275kV.
The pumped hydro project is based at the former Kidston gold mine in North Queensland and will use the site’s mining pits (Wises and Eldridge) as upper and lower reservoirs.
The work is being led by a joint venture of McConnell Dowell and John Holland, with Andritz Hydro as OEM for the electromechanical equipment.
The project team was driving towards project energisation towards the end of next year Mr Ford said.
The on-site workforce ranged up to 300 at this stage of the project construction, and was expected to increase to more than 400 people on site next year, he said.