Yukon Energy’s large wind turbine on Haeckel Hill is once again producing energy.
The 660 kilowatt turbine, which has the capacity to supply about 120 homes with electricity, stopped working in mid-March because of a problem with the ring gear. That’s a piece of equipment that makes the blades turn into the wind.
A large crane had to be brought up from Alberta to help with the repairs, since there wasn’t an operating crane in the Yukon large enough to do the job. The work began on Tuesday, Sept. 7 and was finished last night, Sept. 9.
“The repairs went very smoothly,” Yukon Energy spokesperson Janet Patterson said. “The weather cooperated for the most part, so the crew was able to get the job done without any lengthy delays.”
In order to do the work, the hub of the turbine, with the three blades still attached, was removed and gently lowered 37 metres to the ground, where it was set on a metal stand. “That part of the turbine is 47-metres in diameter and weighs about 20-tonnes,” Patterson said. “It was amazing to watch how effortlessly the crane lifted it.” Next, the rectangular box at the top of the turbine’s column was removed, the new ring gear installed, and the turbine put back together.
While the final bill for the repairs, including equipment, labour, crane and related expenses is still to come in, it’s expected the cost will be about $180,000.
Yukon Energy has two wind turbines on Haeckel Hill as part of a pilot project to test the feasibility of wind generation in the territory. The first turbine was installed in July 1993, and the second larger one in the fall of 2000.
Contact:
Janet Patterson
Communications, Yukon Energy Corporation
(867) 393-5333
janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca
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