A significant milestone in renewable energy has been achieved off the coast of Marseille, where Provence Grand Large, France’s first floating offshore wind farm, has taken shape. Three massive 8.4 MW wind turbines were installed on floating platforms, marking a major advance in green energy innovation. At the heart of this operation was one of the largest crawler cranes ever built, the LR 11350 from Liebherr, a towering machine with a 150-meter boom that commanded respect even from industry veterans.
Werner Schmidbauer, Managing Director of the Schmidbauer Group, was on-site and in awe of the crane’s sheer scale. He’s seen plenty of big machines, but this particular model left a lasting impression. “It’s a sight to behold,” he remarked. This giant crane wasn’t just a bystander in this energy revolution; it was central to hoisting the massive wind turbines into place from the port of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, about 50 kilometers northwest of Marseille.
This operation, led by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy in partnership with EDF Renouvables and Enbridge, aims to further the development of offshore wind energy, all while keeping marine ecosystems intact. The floating turbines were towed 17 kilometers out to sea, anchored to the seabed with minimal impact, a step forward for both renewable energy and environmental conservation.
The LR 11350 was equipped with a PowerBoom, boosting its lifting power by nearly 50%. Transported from Germany, this engineering marvel arrived in France on more than 90 articulated trucks. It took 15 experts from Schmidbauer and additional Liebherr engineers over a month to assemble the machine, showcasing the massive logistical effort behind the project.
This groundbreaking project faced delays due to the pandemic and supply chain issues, but it was finally executed with precision, making use of advanced digital simulations to handle the complexity of lifting components onto moving, floating platforms.
The installation was a technical feat, with the crane lifting up to 130-ton wind turbine components, requiring absolute precision. Even a slight movement in the crane’s hook could cause instability, making every operation nerve-wracking but highly coordinated.
The Mediterranean wind, known as the mistral, added to the challenge. Often reaching speeds of over 100 km/h, the mistral forced crews to pause work and even dismantle parts of the crane to ensure safety. It was a frustrating yet necessary precaution.
Despite these challenges, the project was completed, and the floating wind turbines were successfully installed.
Source:Liebherr
