MATTHIAS SARENS INTERVIEW Ӏ RING CRANES
Do you expect project tenders to begin specifying ‘electric only’ heavy lifting? As sustainability ambitions intensify across the industry, we do indeed expect project tenders to increasingly specify ‘electric-only’ heavy lifting – especially for urban, industrial, and infrastructure projects with clear decarbonisation targets. But this is not the general situation yet. At Sarens, we are already preparing for this shift. While full electrification will develop progressively, the direction is unmistakable: cleaner operations, measurable carbon reduction, and innovative solutions that support a greener future for heavy lifting.
Can the crane be used at sites without a strong grid system? Can it, for example, be powered by batteries, or even by diesel generators, if required? Yes absolutely, there are multiple ways to supply power to the crane. Currently the crane is connected
to a transformer station on the site and is only powered by the grid. With a battery buffer coupled to the grid connection we can significantly lower the grid connection requirement, as the peak power need will be reduced. If grid connection is not possible we can supply power with diesel generators, which not need to be synchronised. Also a combination of a grid connection with a diesel generator is possible so the set-up of the power supply is designed to be very flexible.
How does the crane’s regenerative energy system work? When the crane hook is lowered or the crane is luffing down, energy is generated; this mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy by the electrical motors. This energy will be recovered by another movement (slewing) or for powering the control system, cooling, etc. on the crane. If there is still energy left after this step it can be injected into the grid when connected to the grid. If there is no grid connection the excess energy will be dissipated as heat by brake resistors in the EPCs. We estimate that the electrical
powertrain reduces energy consumption up to 40% or in some cases even more.
What kind of applications was the crane built to handle? This crane can operate in all different industries. The SGC fleet has a proven track record in nuclear, offshore wind, civil and oil and gas projects. Special attention was given to design the crane boom to be capable to install heavy wind turbine components at very high hook heights of over 200m.
How does Sarens see market demand shifting between these application sectors over the next decade? Over the next decade demand will tilt decisively toward future-facing sectors – offshore and onshore wind (including ever-larger turbines) and expanding nuclear – while for traditional civil engineering, oil and gas, petrochemical and thermal powerplants new builds will stabilise and projects will moving towards renovation and decommissioning. Offshore wind capacity and project pipelines have surged driving demand for specialised heavy lifts and marshalling harbour logistics. Nuclear new-build and life-extension programmes are also growing requiring ever heavier cranes such as the SGC 250, the world’s biggest mobile crane, working today at the Hinkley Point nuclear plant in UK.
Once at a job site location can the crane be relocated to different parts of the site? If so, how is this done and how long does it take? Yes, site relocation is possible. Four extension pieces are connected to the crane so that we can drive underneath with SPMTs without interference with the ring beam. After part of the counterweight
containers is stacked off, the SPMTs lift the crane as a whole and move it just in front of the new position. The ring beam and spreader mats are separately moved to the new position, and when installed the crane can be lowered again on the ring beam on its new position.
After restacking the counterweight
containers, the crane is ready to use again. We estimate this whole sequence taking no longer than one week.
How much ballast can the crane take and what does the ballast comprise? The crane can have a maximal ballast weight of 4500 tonnes; it is currently deployed with 3500 tonnes of ballast. The ballast consists of custom-made steel containers that are locally filled with sand to optimise transportation costs; during transport the containers are filled with crane components (for example, bogies)
On a crane of such size how is safety maximised with regards to the operator being aware of what is going on? In a general way we meet all necessary safety requirements according to EN 13000; when executing lifts there are always riggers and lifting supervisors in contact with the crane operator to follow up on the lifting activities from the necessary angles.
The cabin is located in the centre of the crane which gives a broad view of the crane boom and lifting activities. Cameras in the operator’s cabin aimed on the winches and on the hook permit the operator to closely monitor all moving components.
Where is the crane now, what is it being used for, and how long will it be there? The crane is currently in the Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, the Netherlands for the load- out of monopiles. These monopiles are being lifted in a tandem lift together with our SGC120/1.
The SGC-170 is named ‘Big Matthias’; what design decisions are you personally most proud of? I’m proud of the modular concept that has been extended into the various components; the electrical powertrain, wheel trucks, etc… we can reshape the crane very quickly to suit specific project needs. But what makes me most proud is that we can realise this project in a very short timeframe because of our skilled and dedicated people!
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