Dismantling a Wind Turbine in Germany
Introduction and Project Objective
The end of 2024 turned out to be very busy and demanding for us, as we took on a job in eastern Germany. The main goal of the project was to dismantle a 1.50 MW wind turbine.
Scope of Work
Carrying out advanced work at over 100 meters above the ground required the use of the heaviest unit in our fleet of mobile cranes – the Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1. The execution of the order would not have been possible without the auxiliary crane – the Liebherr LTM 1130-5.1, which provided intensive support to the main crane in many aspects. The dismantling of the wind turbine involved lifting and then lowering the hub and rotor blades to the ground. The next components of the turbine that we lifted were the gearbox and the nacelle. Further work involved dismantling the turbine tower, which consisted of 6 sections with different masses. The lightest tower section weighed 28.5 tons, while the heaviest weighed as much as 55 tons.
Project Challenges
Dismantling the wind turbine proved to be a major challenge for us. Executing this type of assignment requires a thorough analysis of many factors and taking actions aimed at minimizing costs and risks. Due to ongoing installation work on a more powerful wind turbine located close to the one we were dismantling, we faced many tasks we had not taken into account before. Thanks to good organization and team communication, the processes for both projects proceeded successfully.
The dismantling of the turbine required various configurations of the main crane. The highest-positioned turbine components were dismantled using the T3YV2EN configuration. The next project step involved dismantling the lattice sections of the main crane, and then moving closer to the turbine with the equipment. After achieving the necessary parameters, the boom was reassembled to obtain greater lifting capacities for the heaviest lifts.
Efficiency
We transported 95% of the crane components using our own fleet, significantly reducing shipping costs. Using the Liebherr LTM 1130-5.1 as an auxiliary crane allowed us to increase the efficiency of assembly processes and streamline the loading of transports.
Logistical Coordination
The main crane configuration – Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 – for the turbine dismantling included using 135T of counterweight and 49m of lattice sections. Most of the crane’s equipment was transported to the worksite using our own fleet of trucks, adhering to permissible load limits.
Conclusion
Dismantling the wind turbine in Germany was a valuable lesson for us and motivates our further development in the renewable energy sector. We look forward to continued cooperation in the RES industry, and the experience we’ve gained will certainly lead to even more efficient and precise execution of our services.
