According to the Oman Observer on May 18, 2021, the international alliance Formed by Omani global integrated energy company OQ, leading international green fuel developer InterContinental Energy and Kuwait government-backed clean energy investment developer EnerTech announced today. , which is developing large-scale green energy projects in Oman.

The project is to convert 25 gigawatts of renewable solar and wind energy into one million tons of zero-carbon green hydrogen per year. The green hydrogen produced can be used locally, or directly exported or converted into green ammonia for export. The alliance said it would use its extensive network of commercial relationships and partnerships to secure long-term sales of the energy.

The use of green and clean energy is becoming a trend all over the world. In green energy, solar energy occupies a very important position. The sun powers the earth every day in an amount far greater than the world has ever needed. Solar energy isn’t just provided by energy companies, it can be provided by many smaller companies as well, as a way to reduce energy bills. As the public, corporations and governments recognize the value of solar energy, new opportunities for crane companies are also on the horizon.

solar tower

Construction needs of solar power plants
For large projects, contractors using the design, procurement and construction (EPC) approach are responsible for planning and building different types of systems. They take turnkey projects that do everything from installing 20 photovoltaic panels on a commercial roof to a large solar thermal plant with reflectors and heavy transFormers. The general contractor or sub-contractor will then contract with one or several crane companies for the lifting operation.

There are two main types of solar power plants: power plants using light-weight photovoltaic panels and concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) power plants using reflectors.

In California, cranes were used in the construction of the large 370MW Avenpa Solar Power Plant. The power station consists of a concrete solar tower and numerous steel structures aligned with the boilers on the tower. The 173,500 reflectors on the 50,000 columns were lifted by cranes. Mirrors reflect sunlight onto receivers on the solar tower, which boil the water and drive turbine generators.

The installation of a solar power plant is not as simple as lifting the mirrors with a typical wheeled crane. Tower cranes, self-propelled modular trailers and large wheeled cranes are also used to construct the central solar tower supporting the reactors and boilers.

Due to the consideration of the influence of wind, the work of hoisting the receiving device to the top of the solar tower is done by a tower crane. For example, the 130 EC-B 6 FR.tronic flat-top tower crane sold by crane manufacturer Liebherr in 2008 was used to hoist equipment for a large solar power plant in Seville, Spain.

How to choose a crane supplier
Since 2010, Evo Energy has worked with contractors who have on hand a large number of users integrating solar PV systems into their buildings. Evo Energy designs and installs solar panel systems that can be installed on new buildings or retrofitted to older buildings.
Robbie Sherman, head of new product sales at Evo Energy, said the tax incentives could save money and boost local markets.
“We have installed more than 700 20MW panels so far, and demand has never dropped. Meeting the constraints of climatic conditions, lower annual usage charges and the benefits of the feed-in tariff incentives have enabled numerous companies large and small to continue Optimistic about solar PV panels.
“Solar photovoltaic panels and other renewable energy technologies will become more common as governments increase their tax incentives to meet climate targets,” Sherman said.
“Especially for new buildings, this is a requirement of regulations. Regulations require that new buildings generate at least some of their own electricity. People like to use solar PV panels because it is the easiest to install.
“Most of the installation is done by our own personnel, except for handling equipment such as cranes used to lift panels, mounting brackets and other building materials to the roof. On larger projects, the general contractor may have appointed a crane supplier, we will use what is given in this case. If no one specifies a crane, we will subcontract the lifting part to a local crane company.” Sherman said the choice of mobile crane will vary according to the requirements of the site and different. “Because we’ll be working on so many different sites, including buildings under construction, if there’s no road, you’ll need a dedicated crane.

Cranes help with solar power plant construction