ENERCON has acquired a Liebherr LR 11000 crawler crane with a maximum lifting capacity of 1,000 tonnes to support the installation of its E-175 EP5 E2 turbine. The company aims to reduce its dependency on external crane availability and improve planning reliability for customer projects.
ENERCON is expanding its in-house logistics and installation capabilities and making targeted investments in heavy equipment. To support the installation of its latest wind turbine model, the E-175 EP5 E2, the company has acquired a Liebherr LR 11000 crawler crane with a maximum lifting capacity of 1,000 tonnes and a maximum hook height of 200 metres.
“By investing in modern installation equipment, we are reducing our dependency on external crane availability and enhancing our flexibility as a provider of solutions for the renewable energy ecosystem,” said Hendrik Peterburs, Vice President of ENERCON Global Logistics. “ENERCON customers benefit from greater planning reliability and faster response times when unforeseen changes occur. Our goal is to deliver our customers’ projects on schedule and enable the fastest possible commissioning of their wind farms.”
ENERCON’s logistics fleet expands
The new LR 11000 joins ENERCON’s existing fleet of 6 heavy-lift cranes and 8 auxiliary cranes, 1 self-propelled blade lifter for transporting rotor blades along narrow routes, 5 standard trucks, 16 heavy-haul trucks, 5 escort vehicles, 14 low-bed, semi-trailer and flatbed trailers, and a total of 22 heavy-duty transport trailers, including specialised rotor blade trailers. ENERCON also operates 1 push barge, developed in cooperation with logistics partner Rhenus AG, for transporting E-175 EP5 E2 rotor blades on inland waterways.
The crane was delivered to ENERCON in the summer and is already being used on a customer project in eastern Germany. At the Kakerbeck wind farm in Saxony-Anhalt, ENERCON is using the crane to install several E-160 EP5 turbines.
Focus on E-175 EP5 E2 installations
In the future, the crane will primarily be deployed for the installation of ENERCON’s latest flagship turbine. With a rotor diameter of 175 metres, a rated power output of 7.0 MW and hub heights of up to 175 metres, the E-175 EP5 E2 is, according to the company, among the largest and most powerful onshore wind turbines in Europe.
The heavy-lift crane has been designed for efficient assembly and disassembly on wind farm construction sites, enabling rapid relocation to the next crane position. “The optimised setup times contribute significantly to a high degree of project and operational flexibility,” said Hendrik Peterburs. The LR 11000 is equipped with the latest safety and assistance systems, ensuring continuous monitoring of all relevant crane parameters during operation.
“The LR 11000 is ideally suited for installing our large-rotor, multi-megawatt turbines with high hub heights,” Peterburs concluded. “In addition, it is already designed for even taller tower configurations. With this specialised equipment, we are prepared to meet the future requirements of modern wind energy projects.”
