Focus

Recently, at its Gansu Experimental Wind Farm, Goldwind successfully completed the test for China's first smart equipment for "crane-free replacement of major wind turbine components". Using its self-developed "self-lifting smart equipment", the company carried out high-altitude disassembly and reassembly validation of the gearbox and generator of a GWH204-6.7MW turbine. With this equipment, future replacement of major wind turbine components will significantly reduce reliance on large-scale lifting machinery, cutting O&M costs for the replacement by an estimated 50%.

At present, major wind turbine component replacement requires large-scale lifting equipment and extensive manpower, leading to very high O&M costs. For example, in offshore wind, such replacements depend on large jack-up installation ships, with a single operation costing over CNY 3 million. Moreover, the long lead time required to mobilize large lifting equipment also causes significant losses in power generation revenue for wind power projects. To improve wind farm O&M efficiency and overcome economic bottlenecks, Goldwind developed the "self-lifting smart equipment" with fully independent intellectual property rights. The product consists of a smart equipment base, a main body, and a winch system. A small auxiliary crane is used to assemble the base, after which the equipment's own winch system lifts and installs the main body, enabling "self-lifting" of large components, essentially equipping turbines with a "mechanical arm" capable of performing "self-surgery". The core advantage of the "self-lifting smart equipment" lies in its ability to achieve "maximum effect with minimum effort". In the past, replacing major offshore wind turbine components required a jack-up installation ship; now, only a small floating crane is needed. Onshore turbines once required crawler cranes with lifting capacities of over 1,200 tons; today, a 100-ton wheeled truck crane suffices, delivering substantial savings in equipment costs.

At present, the equipment enables efficient replacement of gearboxes and generator units across different turbine models. In the future, its application will expand to other major components such as hubs and blades, effectively reducing the "full-body treatment costs" of turbines and significantly enhancing wind project returns. In addition, the "self-lifting smart equipment" addresses the long scheduling delays of large cranes and installation ships, greatly accelerating project timelines and safeguarding power generation revenue. For instance, in offshore turbine large component replacement, the traditional approach requires 14-28 days of downtime, whereas this equipment reduces the period to just 5-7 days, shortening project schedules by more than 80%, substantially cutting generation losses and enhancing operational continuity. Once scaled and industrialized, the "self-lifting smart equipment" will generate enormous innovative value for the industry. According to 2024 national gearbox fault data, the predicted failure rate over a 25-year lifecycle is about 15%. For an offshore wind farm with 500 turbines, compared to traditional replacement using jack-up installation ships, the "self-lifting smart equipment" could save over CNY 188 million across 25 years, with a return on investment exceeding 500%. To ensure that the "self-lifting smart equipment" delivers stable returns for customers, Goldwind embedded "efficiency" and "safety" into the product's DNA from the design stage. The equipment features a modular quick assembly/disassembly system with a split-type design, improving operational efficiency by more than 40%. Equipped with load monitoring, posture adjustment, and emergency brake systems, it enables closed-loop monitoring throughout the replacement process. With multiple braking mechanisms (mechanical, hydraulic, and more), it rigorously controls safety risks, providing customers with unwavering confidence in adopting this innovative product.

Previously, Goldwind had completed the test for the smart equipment for crane-free replacement of transformers. The successful testing of the major component "self-lifting smart equipment" marks another step forward in Goldwind's intelligent wind power O&M capabilities. Once commercialized, the equipment can be rapidly adapted to onshore and offshore wind turbines of various models, enabling full-scenario coverage and comprehensively enhancing the safety and cost-effectiveness of wind power O&M. Building on this foundation, Goldwind will further integrate AI and digital twin technologies to develop a "full-chain smart O&M solution for offshore wind turbines", covering perception monitoring, diagnostic early warning, and data analysis. This initiative will provide the wind industry with superior solutions for sustainable development.