WindSpider has introduced a crane designed to facilitate the installation of large wind turbines. This innovative machinery, which is self-assembling and has no weight or height restrictions, promises to be an invaluable tool in areas of high wind incidence, representing a significant breakthrough in terms of reducing the costs associated with the life cycle of wind turbines.
Versatile crane for the installation of wind turbines
The company is in the initial production phase of the first large-scale unit of this aluminum crane system, intended for the installation and replacement of critical wind turbine components both onshore and offshore. This innovative design takes advantage of the turbine tower as a support point, eliminating relative movement between the crane and the wind turbine.
With a lifting capacity of more than 1500 tons, WindSpider is positioned as a solution to several of the most significant challenges facing the wind industry. It is poised to accommodate future generations of wind turbines at a dramatically reduced cost, transforming offshore floating wind turbine installation and maintenance operations by enabling on-site repairs rather than requiring towing to shore.
The development of this technology is supported by a team with deep industry experience and is carried out in close collaboration with some of the world’s leading wind operators. Recently, the company has secured additional financing from its current owners, such as the IKM Group, and has attracted interest from new investors.
Strategic alliances
In a recent development, WindSpider has entered into a partnership with Leirvik Group AS, marking the start of construction of the first WindSpider unit. Leirvik will not only invest in WindSpider, but will also become a key industrial partner. Both companies have completed a study validating the use of aluminum in the WindSpider structure and will continue to collaborate on design and engineering.
The choice of aluminum brings consequent advantages, including a notable reduction in weight and an improvement in manufacturing and maintenance processes, with the possibility of using aluminum profiles designed specifically for this purpose.
Hans Olav Hide, chairman of the board of WindSpider, has expressed his satisfaction with the partnership with Leirvik, highlighting the synergies and the combination of WindSpider’s innovation with Leirvik’s industrial expertise as key factors for the success of the project. This cooperation will give WindSpider access to Leirvik’s valuable resources, facilitating the preparation, manufacture and testing of the first WindSpider unit.
For his part, Helge Gjøsæter, CEO of Leirvik, has recognized the disruptive potential of the WindSpider system in the global wind market and anticipates that Leirvik’s expertise in large-scale aluminum constructions will perfectly complement WindSpider’s vision, promising substantial benefits from building the system in aluminum.
Such innovations not only represent a technological breakthrough, but also drive sustainability in the energy sector. By reducing costs and facilitating the installation of wind turbines in previously inaccessible locations, WindSpider contributes directly to accelerating the shift to renewable energy sources and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
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Source and photo: windspider.com
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