Austrian engineering company Palfinger has secured a contract with Smulders (a multidisciplinary construction company with extensive experience in engineering, producing, delivering, and assembling heavy, technically complex steel structures) to provide 64 PF 160-5m davit cranes for ScottishPower Renewables’ East Anglia TWO offshore wind farm.
The wind farm, situated in the southern North Sea off the Suffolk coast, is planned to deliver up to 960 megawatts (MW) of electricity and aims to supply almost one million homes with renewable energy upon completion.
Under the terms of the contract, Palfinger will deliver one crane for each of the development’s turbines by the end of 2026.
The order follows an earlier contract to supply davit cranes for the Bałtyk 2 and 3 offshore wind farms, further increasing Palfinger’s activity within the UK’s offshore renewable sector.
The cranes provided by Palfinger are designed to assist with material handling, maintenance, and service operations on wind turbine platforms.
According to the company, the PF 160-5m models are intended for use in challenging marine environments and are aimed at enabling safe and efficient lifting with minimal maintenance requirements.
Palfinger Offshore Wind global key account & segment manager Iavor Markov said: “With our reliable and high-performance lifting solutions, we support customers in operating offshore wind farms safely and efficiently over their entire lifecycle.
“East Anglia TWO is a major renewable energy project, and we are proud to contribute our expertise once again.”
Palfinger has a strong presence in the European offshore wind market, with particular emphasis on the UK as a key buyer country.
The company previously supplied 96 PF 160 cranes for the East Anglia THREE project, where offshore installation is currently underway.
Combined, the East Anglia TWO and THREE wind farms are expected to supply electricity to approximately 2.25 million households.
With the latest contract, Palfinger announced it has now sold a total of 7,000 lifting and handling solutions for use in offshore and onshore wind sectors, with around 6,600 already delivered.
The company’s equipment is currently operational in 19 countries, supporting the generation of more than 53 gigawatts of renewable power.
In May, Palfinger was awarded a contract to deliver seven PF200-7m davit cranes for offshore substations in the North Sea.
