Fortescue‘s recently-acquired turbine subsidiary Nabrawind has done something that was believed to be impossible: they’ve installed a full-scale, energy producing wind turbine in harsh Namibian conditions using a new, crane-less deployment process.
Despite the presence of a “just in case” crane at the site (you can see it in the photo above, at left), the Nabrawind-developed Total Self Erecting System (SES) and Skylift turbine techn overcame the technical challenges presented by the harsh, remote Namibian climate by completing the installation of the company’s first Goldwind GW165/6000 power-generating turbine at the InnoVent Diaz wind farm.
Together, the company says its branded solutions technologies eliminate the need for large-tonnage cranes on many job sites, overcoming the significant logistical challenges of getting those cranes in position in the sort of remote and extremely and windy locations that are ideal for the turbines, themselves. And, most importantly, Total SES is capable of working with many types of existing wind turbines.
The technology developed by Nabralift has evolved, making it possible to lift any type of tower once the rotor has been installed at a height of 30–40 m (previously 90–100 m). The operation is performed reliably in unstable winds, at speeds of 15 m/s and bursts of up to 20 m/s, unlike conventional cranes that can only operate in winds of up to 6–8 m/s for the installation of certain components, such as the blades. The Innovent Diaz wind farm, located in one of the world’s most wind-rich areas, has enabled the validation of this installation system across the entire range of wind speeds.
