ALE has adapted a crane to reduce the installation time of the Loma Blanca 2 wind farm project in Argentina.
The contractor engineered a solution allowing the 120 metre-high crawler crane (pictured) to be moved in one piece after installation, instead of disassembling crane sections and reassembling for subsequent lift positions, saving a significant amount of time, according to the company.
Loma Blanca 2, in Patagonia, is one of four phases of the Loma Blanca wind farm being developed by Goldwind. The phases will enter production from 2019 onwards.
In order to reduce the time required to disassemble and transport the crane’s components from pad to pad, the crane was initially assembled on refurbished existing beams, laid on spreading mats. During the lifts, the beams supported the transmitted loads.
According to ALE the roads between the project’s turbines were so narrow, modifications were also required to transport the crane to the site.
ALE engineering manager Andres Crespo said: “By choosing a different methodology to our competitors and avoiding the need to disassemble and reassemble for every lift, we provided the most cost-effective option possible which also reduced operational costs.”
“We are progressing well with the project schedule thanks to this solution, and with our third crane adapted for wind farms, we are in the best position to tackle the challenges of working on future project sites.”
Loma Blanca II project, where ALE has been contracted to install 16 wind turbine generators in Patagonia, Argentina.