Enercon BladeLifter makes its debut

First deployment of Enercon’s Scheuerle BladeLifter G4. It allows the hydraulic lifting and tilting of rotor blades by up to 60 degrees. Photo: TII Scheuerle

Wind energy company Enercon deployed its new BladeLifter for the first time on a project in Germany.

Enercon manufacturers wind turbines and has its own fleet of equipment to deliver and install them. A new addition is the TII Scheuerle BladeLifter G4. It made its debut on construction of the Olsbrücken wind farm in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Two Enercon E-138 EP3 turbines with a hub height of 160 metres were to be added to the Olsbrücken wind farm. Combined with the existing turbines the farm’s total generating capacity will be 8.52 megawatts.

A major challenge was to transport the new turbines’ 68 metre blades through village streets with little clearance, along narrow country lanes and over railway crossings. Being able to hydraulically raise and tilt the rotor blades by as much as 60 degrees was crucial to the success of the project.

Transporting the 68 metre rotor blades involved navigating narrow rural roads and challenging ground. Photo: TII Scheuerle

Flexibility in planning

Björn Feddermann, Enercon global logistics project manager, explained, “The BladeLifter G4 opens up new possibilities for us in transporting our rotor blades. Especially with long components and demanding routes, the technology gives us greater flexibility and planning reliability. For us as a team, this first deployment was a real challenge – but both the equipment and the crew mastered it brilliantly.”

The successful transport was carried out by the operator team led by Björn Feddermann, consisting of Stefan Grote, Kevin Hellbach, Malte Tjarks, Klaus Richter and Andre Engel. Their dedication and precise co-ordination were crucial to the smooth execution of Enercon’s first BladeLifter operation.

In addition to the logistical benefits, Enercon was particularly convinced by the overall package: TII Scheuerle’s transport solutions are well established on the market, other systems are already in use within the company, and the collaboration proved excellent. “We had a competent contact person for every aspect; the know-how was extensive, and our feedback was always welcomed,” added Feddermann.

Following the successful experience in Olsbrücken, Enercon is already planning the next use: at the Bingen wind farm near Sigmaringen on Lake Constance, the Scheuerle BladeLifter G4 will once again be deployed.

This transport solution demonstrates how modern heavy-duty technology supports the expansion of renewable energy: fewer interventions in infrastructure, greater planning reliability and improved efficiency – benefits Enercon intends to leverage in future projects.

Transporting the rotor blades through residential areas involved precise work at night. Photo: TII Scheuerle