On November 13, Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group witnessed a successful test of its full-circle crane for offshore single blade installation at Sheyang Port. It is the first of its kind in China, marking an end to the overseas technical monopoly in this field.

The crane is designed by Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group and manufactured by Juli Sling. The first-generation crane weighing 87 tonnes can lift a single blade as heavy as 35 tonnes. Through the hawser cable system, A-type support, and rotation axis, the crane allows free posture manipulation of the blade. The advanced design greatly extends the hoisting window as the crane can withstand a maximum wind speed of 15m/s and the recommended operation wind speed increases to 12m/s from 8m/s. The camera system makes grabbing and releasing easier through interactive pad operation. The blade pressure balancing system with pressure compensation minimizes the blade load to prevent any damage.

Occupying over 40% of the domestic offshore wind power market, Shanghai Electric is extremely experienced in hoisting offshore wind turbines. The entire process from design to successful test takes nine months.

As China reduces the wind power subsidy, the peak of offshore turbine installation will come in 2021. A convenient, efficient crane that frees ships and extends the hoisting window is a big help in winning more contracts.

Wind turbines are installed further and further in the sea, and their power continues to grow. How to lift them has been troubling many manufacturers. There are three challenges in the installation of high-power offshore wind turbines: ships, weather, and jigger. Most of the Chinese lifting ships do not have a large enough deck to install high-power rotor blades. Besides, they can only be hoisted at a wind speed no higher than 8m/s, which means a narrow operation window. Offshore wind turbines are most direct-driven types without a gearbox, which makes it difficult to replicate the model of jigger+single blade when installing 4MW turbines. A crane that can hoist high-power single blade wind turbines is much needed in the industry. However, the technology had been monopolized by foreign companies, and the COVID-19 crisis made the situation of high price and slow response even worse.