Heavy Lifting Drives Progress in the Northwest

Recently, Cobalt Energy Project Services Limited (CEPSL) successfully orchestrated some impressive crane operations in the Northwest, as construction progressed into its next phase, acting as Principal Contractor on the project, having previously supported as Owner’s Engineer during Phase 1.

During Phase 1 of the Project, Cobalt’s Technical team provided technical due diligence during pre-construction, supported grid connection, undertook civil and electrical design reviews, and maintained oversight throughout the construction phase to ensure quality and compliance. The team also fulfilled Principal Designer duties under CDM regulations, embedding safety into the design process from an early stage. The team is now responsible for both the design and installation of the Civils and Electrical Balance of Plant (BoP), as well as major equipment installations using cranes.

A recent construction milestone has marked an exciting stage in the project’s progression. To support the installation of the 23 Power Conversion units, a Liebherr LTM1500-8.1 arrived on site, featuring a Main Boom Length of 57.7m, a height of 31.9m and an impressive lifting capacity of 500 tonnes. The crane plays a vital role in positioning the large units safely and efficiently.

The process begins with the power conversion units transported by road from a UK port and secured to the transport vehicle using twist locks at all four lower corner castings. Following inspection, the operators attach camlocks into the lower corner castings before signalling to the crane operator to begin the lift. The process then continues with precision as the unit is positioned over the screw pile beams. Pre-positioned shims ensure each unit is installed onto a level surface, ready for the next phase of construction.

Following a busy week on site, the team turned their focus to the next phase of crane operations, using a Liebherr LTM 1750 mobile crane with a lifting capacity of 750 tonnes to offload 46 battery units, each weighing almost 50 tonnes. The successful completion of this operation represented another major achievement for the project.

Now, as the project moves into mid-summer, the civil engineering works are nearing completion, and the Cobalt team is preparing to hand over the site to the client. The project stands as a testament to Cobalt Energy’s expertise in Battery Energy Storage System developments and our capability to deliver complex projects safely and efficiently as Principal Contractor.