ALE wraps up major wind energy contract

International heavy lift and transport company ALE is approaching the final stages of one of its biggest wind energy contracts ever secured in Thailand. The company was awarded the major contract for the transportation, crane lifting and installation of 24 x 2.5 megawatt (MW) turbines to be erected on a project site in Khao Kho and another 30 x 2.5 MW turbines at Watabak, Thailand.

The scope involves receiving the components from the vessel in several shipments over three months, before offloading and transporting them into a temporary storage facility at the port of Laem Chabang, Chonburi province, Thailand.

ALE is also responsible for transporting the components 620 kilometres to the site location, offloading and erecting the turbines, and finally the mechanical and electrical installation of all the components. The next stage will be a hand over to the client for the final commissioning.

Keith Crowther, senior project manager at ALE, said, “This contract marks a major milestone for ALE, highlighting our growing presence in South East Asia’s wind energy sector.

“ALE has made the significant investments to help meet the requirements of both existing and new clients in the region. As the towers grow higher and the diameter of the rotors increase to maximise the yield, we are investing in the latest technology to ensure that we can meet our clients’ demands. We have invested heavily into this project and for future projects within the wind sector. We have employed 70 new members of staff and ordered new cranes, trucks, blade trailers, specialist tower transporters and extendable trailers to compliment the equipment already in Thailand.”

The company received the first shipment of components in October 2015 and has since installed 14 turbines. All components are expected to be delivered in May of this year and the installation will be completed in June. The second wind energy project in Watabak involving 30 turbines will commence around mid-May.