Powering India’s wind energy projects

The wind beneath your wings Allcargo’s crane rental services are geared to respond to the rising demand from India’s upcoming mega wind energy projects

These are good times for the wind energy sector in India, with 5,500 MW of wind power projects already awarded this year, and another 2,500 MW projects on the cards for auction in the months to come.

For Allcargo, a dominant and established player in the wind energy sector, this is a huge opportunity that is unfolding both in crane rentals as well as in the transportation of components for windmill erection and commissioning.

As the largest provider of crane service and engineering solutions to India’s wind sector, Allcargo is perfectly poised to leverage its leadership position and lend its expertise to this booming sector.

”We have established a strong relationship with leading players in the wind energy sector, and on the basis of our stellar performance in the past, we have the first-mover advantage in executing the pipeline of projects of our wind energy clients,” says Shibu Joseph, GM-business development, project and engineering at Allcargo.

Allcargo’s prowess in the wind energy sector is already at work in Gujarat’s Bhuj region, where it is executing a major project for renewables major Vestas Energy. This includes undertaking the complete scope of work from ‘factory to foundation’ — picking up the windmill components and massive rotor blades from various factories, delivering those to the site, and also providing yard facilities and equipment for loading and unloading. Allcargo also undertakes shipment of components from the yard (called Zero Point) to the location or site where the windmills are finally erected.

Vestas is among the most prestigious and long-term projects for Allcargo that will last until October 2018, when the entire project is expected to be commissioned. It’s a mega project involving erection and commissioning of 65 windmills in the high-wind state. Another prestigious assignment for Allcargo’s crane rentals and commissioning team is the Siemens Gamesa project in Karnataka, which is now nearing completion.

A perfect partner

Supporting customers goes beyond delivery of services and capabilities. It’s about being more of a partner in understanding and responding to client issues, both in the planning stages and on site, and this is what gives Allcargo a distinct edge in the market. Its 130-strong, and growing, fleet of cranes has been serving a wide range of sectors and applications across India (see box). ”Over the years, Allcargo has developed a reputation amongst our wind energy customers for quality and service. With our expertise and wide range of equipment, we are able to execute projects seamlessly and on time, despite the rugged and remote environs where wind projects typically come up. That has been our strength and hallmark,” says joint MD Adarsh Hegde.

With leading global safety certifications such as ISO 9001:2008, OHSAS 18001:2007 and LEEA Certification (UK accreditation), this fleet has been the preferred choice for industry-leading customers across sectors.

With newer applications emerging, cranes have also become smarter and more productive thanks to new technologies. Armed with the latest features, which include anti-collision devices, variable drive, smart SLI and remote diagnostic capabilities that help monitor crane performance and identify faults Allcargo’s cranes have kept up with times and will continue to be at the cutting edge of safety and delivery excellence. ”We are focused on upgrading this fleet to match evolving customer needs,” says Mr Joseph.

Maintenance is yet another crucial element that sets a dependable crane services provider apart in the business. Allcargo’s highly skilled and trained technicians are always at hand to ensure that our cranes deliver the required performance and are available for work even in the most challenging terrains.”

Riding the new wave

Having earned its pole position among wind energy clients, Allcargo is ready for more as the sector sees buoyant times ahead, recovering rapidly from a prolonged phase of sluggish growth. ”The online bidding process introduced last year has meant greater transparency in the bidding process. Wind energy tariffs have been reduced drastically, by almost 40%. This has led to a new model, which focuses on maximum generation from the windmills,” Mr Joseph explains.

What makes us confident in taking on new projects and challenges is our core strength in execution and service delivery. Backed by a team that’s technically very sound, Allcargo continues to place the utmost priority on safety in every project it undertakes. This has helped us get repeat orders and forge long-term relationships. ”We have been working for nearly two decades with the wind energy sector. So, we understand the complete requirements for a project; we cover the customer’s requirements from the yard to onsite execution,” Mr Joseph adds.