Wind turbine components are being manufactured and wind turbines assembled in Australia for the first time in a decade at the Vestas Renewable Energy Hub (VREH) in Geelong.
The hub, a venture between Danish energy company Vestas and Australian engineering company Marand, has assembled and tested 44 turbine hubs and 36 drive trains, according to the Clean Energy Council.
The venture is contracted to produce 100 turbine hubs and 50 drive trains for the Berrybank and Dundonnell wind farms.
Financed through the Victorian Renewable Energy Auction Scheme, the Victorian government required that at least 64 per cent of a project be spent locally.
As well as manufacturing, Vestas is investing $3.5 million in maintenance, servicing and research, and has established partnerships with Deakin University in Geelong and Federation University in Ballarat.
Deakin is researching improvements to the carbon fibre used to make turbine blades.
Pictures: Clean Energy Council
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