Oslo, Norway – WindSpider has been awarded a grant of NOK 17.5 million from Innovation Norway to develop its aluminum lifting solution, control system, and simulator for wind turbine installation and maintenance. The project involves building the first full-scale unit of the WindSpider system, which has the potential to become one of the tallest cranes in the world.

The wind industry seeks new technologies to reduce costs and enable the use of larger wind turbines both on land and water. As global onshore and offshore wind activity reaches record highs, along with increases in turbine size and supply chain bottlenecks, the timing is optimal for bringing solutions like WindSpider to market.

Furthermore, the first commercial offshore floating wind projects in Europe are currently being awarded, and initial cases of major component repairs have involved towing turbines to port, which is time-consuming and expensive. WindSpider offers an alternative solution capable of carrying out repairs on-site.

The WindSpider development project, supported by Innovation Norway, aligns with the Norwegian government’s goals to develop export-focused Norwegian suppliers and create jobs in the wind industry by leveraging knowledge from the offshore oil and gas sector.

WindSpider has received support from industry players in Norway and internationally. Following the project, WindSpider will construct the first full-scale unit, which could become one of the world’s tallest cranes and help accelerate the green energy transition.

About WindSpider

WindSpider provides an innovative lifting solution for installing and replacing wind turbine components, both onshore and offshore. The self-erecting solution, which uses the turbine tower as support, offers several benefits:

  • Eliminates relative motion between crane and wind turbine
  • No turbine weight or height restrictions
  • Compatibility with floating vessels
  • Good operability at windy sites

With an effective lifting capacity of over 1,500 metric tons, WindSpider addresses major issues in the wind industry and is prepared for the next generations of wind turbines at a lower cost. 

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