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16/10/2009 Wind turbine blades for Solutia Chemicals’ green energy project are to be delivered to the Newport site this weekend.
A convoy of six extended articulated lorries will transport the 45m turbine blades required for Solutia’s two wind turbines in the early hours of Saturday morning, from Newport dock, west of the river Usk, across the Usk Bridge and to the Solutia plant.
The blades will then be held on site awaiting delivery of the turbine towers, which will be delivered in smaller sections during the course of the weekend and next week.
Developers Wind Direct have closely scrutinised the path that the wind turbine blades are to take, carrying out a ‘Swept Path Analysis’ which identifies the safest, technically viable route that the blades can follow; taking into account bends in the road, junctions and bridges.
Roads along the route will be closed to general traffic for a short period as the lorries make their way through the town.
Wind Direct Project Manager and Renewable Energy Engineer, Jamie Cornish said:
“Wind Direct has carried out a detailed analysis of the route firstly using computer modelling and then by carrying out a dummy run with the lorries that are to be used on the day.
“Permission for the movement is granted until 7am, so this is a focussed operation. It will be an interesting sight to see the blades travelling in convoy during the early hours of the morning.”
Solutia’s Energy Manager, Keith Agnew said:
“We are grateful to the local police and council for helping to organise the logistics of delivery. Once constructed, the turbines will be a clear sign of Newport’s continuing commitment to renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions. We are looking forward to generating our own green energy before the end of the year.”
Once fully operational, the wind turbine blades will provide a third of the Solutia site's annual average electricity usage, equivalent to the average energy use of almost 3,000 houses.
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