The new InnoVent Diaz onshore windfarm in Namibia will have an energy capacity of 44 MW and will produce 230 GWh of renewable electricity per year, once commissioned by the end of 2025. The facility, owned by InnoVent, is located near the port town of Lüderitz, in the Karas region of Namibia.
Its estimated output represents around 6% of Namibia's electricity demand and will contribute to avoiding the release of some 200 000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. Given Namibia's reliance primarily on coal for electricity generation, the new wind farm will also result in significant annual savings on the use of coal as a fuel.
Sarens, a world leader in heavy lifting equipment, engineered transport solutions and crane rental services, is contributing to the construction of the InnoVent Diaz windfarm by installing the wind turbine generators (WTGs), each weighing 125 tonnes. The company is carrying out these operations through its South African division, Sarens Siba, on behalf of the customer Innosun.
The lifting and installation of the WTGs entails the lifting of modules, including towers, rotors, nacelles, generators and blades, with weights ranging from 6 to 90 tonnes. A multiskilled workforce including Namibian, South African, Angolan and Zambian nationals, is involved in the project on site.
Sarens first conducted a preliminary site visit and engineering services in 2020. Five years later, the project is in execution, and the company is currently working on Diaz I, whereafter the Diaz II project will start. Preliminary analysis of the facilities, orography, climatic conditions and other parameters were used to determine the best equipment to carry out the lifting and installation of the wind turbines.
Following the study, it was decided to deploy cranes such as the 500 t Crawler Crane, 500 t All Terrain, 300 t All Terrain and 130 t All terrain, along with 12 axles of K25 SPTMs (self-propelled transport modules). The Crawler Crane was selected due to its limited footprint compared to other crane models, as well as its remarkable lifting capacity and wide range of movement. The lifting equipment had to be shipped to the site from various Sarens international business units.
For most of the lifting and installation of the component elements of the WTGs, CC 2500-1 & GMK 6300 cranes will carry out the lifting in tandem.
Namibia aims to produce 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. However, it currently imports 60 to70% of its electricity, mostly from South Africa, where electricity is generated mainly from coal and supply has been erratic. For Namibia, this has led to frequent power outages and a trade deficit.
The InnoVent Diaz wind farm will contribute to the country's energy independence by reducing electricity imports and combatting climate change. The plant is expected to generate 13% of the country's total electricity production.
Sarens has extensive experience in the lifting, transportation and installation of turbines for wind farms around the world. The company operates in 65 countries around the world and is the global leader and reference in crane rental, heavy lift and engineered transportation services. With state-of-the-art equipment, value engineering, one of the world's largest inventories of cranes, transporters and special rigging equipment, Sarens offers creative and intelligent solutions to heavy lifting and engineering transport challenges in all market sectors.
For more information visit: https://www.sarens.com/
