Does anyone have a rough estimate for renting a crane to erect one or two towers?

Brian,

Variables include the distance the crane travels and the size of crane required. I have heard estimates $1,000 to $2,500 per hour not including travel time. I'm sure it also varies by availability.

Charley

Thanks Charley. Does anyone know how long it takes to put up a tower?

quote:

Originally posted by Charley Martinson:
Brian,

Variables include the distance the crane travels and the size of crane required. I have heard estimates $1,000 to $2,500 per hour not including travel time. I'm sure it also varies by availability.

Charley

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Brian Antonich,

Brian, how big of crane are you talking about?

I was writing a thesis involving the development of a 1.65 MW Vestas Machine so the crane would have to be large enough to put up an 80 meter tower. I'm not sure exactly how tall of a crane one would need for a tower that high.

I am finished writing but any ideas or estimates that you can share in the forum for the sake of discussion would be greatly appreciated as I'm sure that costs have changed since I finished writing.

Also a question about smaller towers: Do you have experience with lattice towers in the 80-200 foot range? I'm trying to get a handle on how much it would cost to rent one to put up a smaller wind turbine.

Thanks!

There are two typical cases for crane used for a Vestas 1.65. The first would be a 400 tonnes lattice main crane and a 160 tonne hydraulic mobile help crane. The nacelle would be lifted in three steps (Machine base frame, gear and generator).

The second would be a 800 tonne hydraulic main crane and a 160 tonne help crane. The nacelle is lifted in one step (51 metric ton).

On a three section tower 78 meter tower the base section weighs approximately 53,000 kg.

The rotor weighs over 22 metric tonnes. The help crane would help build the rotor.

Most crane companies will charge a mobilization charge and time and materials while a few others will bit the entire job.

Bigge Crane And Rigging Offers New Equipment For Constructing Wind Farms

News Departments Products & Technologies
by NAW Staff on Tuesday 22 May 2007

Bigge Crane and Rigging of San Leandro, Calif., recently made its heavy lifting and transportation equipment for the wind energy industry available to contractors nationwide.

According to the company, nine Liebherr LR 1200sx crawler cranes, which can lift up to 485,000 pounds; 12 Liebherr LR 1300 crawler cranes, which can lift up to 660,000 pounds and include a short 23-foot jib for placing turbines on wind towers; and six Manitowoc 2250 crawler cranes, which can lift up to 600,000 pounds, are now available. The company has already deployed its LR1300 crawler crane to support the Roscoe Wind Farm in Texas, Bigge adds.

Brian - I have a bid for a crane that can construct a 100 ft tower/turbine for 150/hr USD. We hope to only have the crane for 3 hours (travel time in the 3 hrs). The crane is located within 10 miles of our business so travel times are low for now.