09.08.2005

Tight location for Windmill lift

When Shandong Changdao Wind Power Co Ltd. planned a windfarm on Changdao island, it had a number of very challenging lift locations. One in particular involved a 60 metre high windmill, located on a steep narrow dirt track, the windturbines, generating unit weighed 32 tonnes.

In order to complete the job cost effectively, the power company commissioned Chinese crane rental company CLETC, based in Tianjin City, to carry out the lift with its Grove GMK 6220-L.

The Groves, all wheel steer and drive together with independent Megatrack suspension, combined with its 72 metre main boom made it the ideal unit for the job.
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The GMK6220-L just fitted on the ledge

The crane had to travel over 370 miles (600km) plus spend two hours on the ferry to the island. Once there, access to the lift was tight with barely enough room to set up,the crane on the narrow ledge carved out of the hilside. The crane used the full 72 metre length of its telescopic boom plus its full 70 tonnes of counterweight to lift the 38 tonne generating unit into position.

CLETC is a growing rental company in Tianjin is focusing on the larger end of the market, it currently has two other Grove All-Terrain cranes in its fleet, a 300 tonne Grove GMK6300 and a 450 t GMK7450

Wind turbine projects are on the rise in China as part of the Law on Renewable Sources which requires local energy companies to purchase as much of their power as possible from renewable sources such as wind, solar and thermal energy providers.

Although the new law will not take effect until 2006, many companies are committing resources towards renewable energy to be ready for next year.