2,000 tonne crane assembles world’s first combined wind and aquaculture facility
21 November 2023
An XGC28000 crawler crane from XCMG Machinery completed lifting operations at what is believed to be the world’s first combined offshore wind power and deep-sea fishery – or aquaculture – facility.
An XCMG XGC28000 crawler crane was used to lift the giant wind turbine into position. Photo: XCMG
An XGC28000 crawler crane from XCMG Machinery in China completed lifting operations at what is claimed to be the world’s first combined offshore wind power and deep-sea fishery – or aquaculture – facility.
Developed by Longyuan Power Group with energy generating components from Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group, the floating facility is off the coast of the Nanri Island of Putian, in Fujian Province, China.
The offshore wind power and aquaculture facility comprises a semi-submersible platform, on which a 4 MW wind turbine and several lightweight photovoltaic modules are installed.
The wind turbine and photovoltaic modules are situated around a hexagonal aquaculture zone in the middle of the platform. Consisting of several aquaculture cages, the zone will enable the farming of fish and seafood products, while producing clean energy at the same time.
Due to the large width of the floating platform, the installation of the turbine was described by crane manufacturer XCMG as a challenge. The chosen crawler crane needed to provide “superb lifting height and capacity under a large operating radius”.
Height and capacity on long radius
An XGC28000 lattice boom crawler was chosen for the task. Its lifting capacity of 2,000 tonnes and an adapted 126 metre main boom was first used to position the 226 tonne and 102 tonne tubualr wind turbine tower sections.
The crane was then used to assemble the platform’s 193 tonne nacelle, on a 42 metre operating radius, before precisely hoisting the three turbine blades onto the platform dock.
Dalian Xinxiang, the contruction contractor’s project manager for the hybrid power facility, said, “The super lifting counterweight luffing system of XCMG’s 2,000 tonne crawler crane has been very useful in this project; the transportation was also convenient and helped us save time and cost.”
According to the project developer, the facility will produce around 16 million kilowatt-hours of energy every year – the equivalent annual electricity consumption of more than 6,000 households.
Yang Dongsheng, CEO at XCMG, said, “XCMG is committed to building a greener future for future generations, we look forward to collaborating with more partners across the industry and jointly promoting the innovative practices and applications of alternative energy.”
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