Transforming Wind Turbine Installation and Maintenance with the LT1500 Installation Crane

07 April 2025

Transforming Wind Turbine Installation and Maintenance with the LT1500 Installation Crane

As the wind industry evolves to accommodate taller turbines and heavier components, the demand for smarter, more adaptable installation solutions continues to grow. The LT1500 Installation Crane rises to solve that challenge as a cutting-edge solution, redefining how wind turbines are installed and maintained—both onshore and offshore.

Built on Liftra’s trusted Self-Hoisting technology, the LT1500 offers a streamlined, lower-impact alternative compared to conventional cranes. It minimizes mobilization requirements, reduces crane pad area, and enables faster, more cost-efficient operations tailored to modern wind project needs.

The LT1500 has already generated strong industry interest and is now in production, with a full-scale demonstration planned for 2026. One of the larger wind farm developers in Europe has committed to the demonstration by purchasing towers equipped with flanges, produced by one of the world’s leading OEMs. The project is supported by EUDP (The Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program).

Technology Innovation: Designed for the Next Generation of Wind Turbines

The LT1500 Installation Crane is engineered to meet the demands of modern wind turbines, supporting hub heights up to 250 meters with component weight up to 120 tons.

The crane features a modular design and can be transported in just 8 trailer loads, compared to the 40–60 required for traditional cranes. Once on site, only SPMT is needed to relocate the crane between turbines, simplifying mobilization and enabling faster wind farm installation and maintenance.

With a required crane pad area of less than 900 m², the LT1500 reduces civil work and on-site footprint. It is compatible with all tower sections with an outer diameter from 3.5 m to 6.5 meters, equipped with an outside flange (60 mm height, 55 mm width). This enables the crane to install towers using a system derived from Liftra’s Self-Hoisting technology, where the crane connects to tower via hoist block and is installed using Liftra’s innovative winching system.

This versatile solution delivers several key advantages:

  • 47% reduction in CO₂ emissions
  • 50% smaller crane pad area
  • Minimal mobilization (only 5–8 truckloads)
  • Fast relocation between turbines, which reduces installation time

Advancing Offshore Solutions with Strategic Collaborations

As the LT1500 Installation Crane enters production and after the onshore tests and first installations, Liftra is expanding its solutions for offshore wind turbine maintenance, supporting broader application across both floating and fixed-bottom wind projects.

Liftra is collaborating on the integration of the Installation Crane technology with the ATOMS Platform, developed by SOLVE WIND, a joint venture between Liftra and Esteyco. This combination of the LT1500 and ATOMS provides a cost-effective and adaptable solution for offshore wind turbine maintenance, offering:

  • Lower LCOE with a more economical alternative to jack-up vessels
  • Flexibility for both fixed-bottom and floating turbines
  • Increased vessel availability with a low-CAPEX solution
  • Environmentally friendly operation
  • Reduction of CO₂ footprint

Concept studies and upcoming demonstrations continue to highlight the strong potential of this offshore solution, reinforcing Liftra’s commitment to delivering high-quality innovations for complex offshore wind projects.

A Scalable Solution for Global Deployment

The LT1500 Installation Crane is developed to support both onshore wind turbine installation and offshore wind turbine maintenance, with a design that aligns with the industry trend toward turbines beyond 15 MW. Its flexibility, compact transportability, and multibrand compatibility makes it well-suited for markets where efficient logistics and scalable solutions are essential.

This includes regions with established onshore infrastructure where efficient logistics are key, as well as areas where offshore wind development and floating turbine readiness are rapidly progressing.

As global wind projects continue to evolve, the LT1500 is ready to meet the most complex installation and maintenance challenges with smarter crane technology.

Discover the Potential

The LT1500 marks a significant step forward in wind turbine installation and maintenance, merging efficiency, scalability, and sustainability to meet the future needs of the wind industry. As development continues, Liftra remains committed to redefining how turbines are installed on land and at sea.

Learn more about the LT1500 and offshore solutions on the Liftra website or explore the EUDP project site for further insights.