Cando Rail & Terminals recently collaborated with two leading global wind turbine manufacturers to transload (store and ship) wind turbine components at its Lethbridge Terminal, including storing and helping move 80-metre-long blades by rail (just shy of the length of a football field!). The wind turbine components are being used for two wind projects in Alberta. These are some of the largest blades to ever be moved in North America.
Cando’s Lethbridge Terminal, formally known as Transmark, has been transloading wind projects since 2005. The terminal is a preferred transloading location for wind energy projects because of the close proximity to major projects, large rail capacity (ability to take in multiple unit trains of components at the same time), and 36 acres of graveled laydown area. The wind turbine components start arriving at Cando’s Lethbridge Terminal well before the construction of a new wind project begins and are stockpiled in preparation for delivery to the wind project site. Components come in by both rail and truck from the manufacturer. Early delivery enables the wind projects to mitigate risks of delays in the supply chain and reduce the amount of transportation equipment. Instead of arranging for many trucks to move all the components at once, a few trucks can make the trip over a few months and slowly bring the components to the Lethbridge Terminal, and then once the wind site is ready, it is just a short trip for delivery.
One of the recent projects included collaboration with Vestas for 22 wind turbines with blades 80 metres long. The blades, hubs, and some tower sections arrived at Cando’s Lethbridge Terminal by rail. The hubs and blades were loaded from vessel to rail in Duluth, Minn., some tower sections were loaded from vessel to rail in Houston, TX., and the base and mid-section towers are too large for rail so they arrived by truck.
Another collaboration with a second manufacturer included 49 wind turbines with blades 77 metres long. All the tower sections arrived at Cando Lethbridge Terminal by rail and the rest of the components came in by truck.
Now that the work for both projects is complete, 640 components have passed through Cando Lethbridge Terminal. The logistics of transloading two large wind energy projects during the same timeframe requires close collaboration between Cando and multiple partners including the manufacturers, Totran Transportation, TNT Crane, and Class I service provider CPKC.
A strategic location, award-winning safety practices, decades of rail and transload operational experience, and advanced logistics capabilities make this unique opportunity to transload wind turbine components successful. Cando’s network of rail terminals are well positioned to move whatever products our customers need us to.
For more information visit www.candorail.com
