Solutions / Engineering guide
Small Wind Turbine Towers & Installation Planning
Plan the tower as part of the complete wind turbine installation. Identify the turbine interface, proposed hub height, site conditions and the responsibilities of the equipment supplier, tower designer and local installer.
Plan the tower and the work scope.
The turbine interface, tower design and local installation need a shared set of drawings and responsibilities.
01 / Turbine interface
Begin with the turbine-to-tower connection.
Record the complete turbine model and obtain the applicable mounting or interface drawing.
Record the complete turbine model and obtain the applicable mounting or interface drawing. The review should identify the connection geometry, fastener requirements and the load information needed by the tower designer. A rotor diameter alone does not define a compatible tower.
MARSTON can coordinate with tower suppliers. Agree which party supplies the tower, approves the mechanical interface and provides the installation documents. Use the current turbine configuration and drawing revision in every exchange.
02 / Hub height
Connect the tower height to the site assessment.
State the proposed hub height above ground and compare it with the reference height of the wind information.
State the proposed hub height above ground and compare it with the reference height of the wind information. Record surrounding obstacles and site constraints using the site assessment guide. A height selected for one site should not be transferred to another without review.
Document the required access footprint and any limits affecting the tower arrangement. The designer and installer need the actual site conditions when comparing available tower options.
03 / Foundation
Prepare the information for the foundation design.
Provide the site location, terrain and available ground information to the responsible designer.
Provide the site location, terrain and available ground information to the responsible designer. Request the turbine and tower load inputs and clarify how they are used in the foundation design. Foundation dimensions and reinforcement must come from the applicable approved design.
Before procurement, identify the excavation, concrete, anchoring and inspection work covered by the local installation scope. Record which drawings and completion records are needed before tower erection. This guide is a planning checklist rather than a foundation construction procedure.
04 / Access & erection
Plan delivery, lifting and service access together.
Describe the delivery route, unloading area, proposed tower position and space available to the installation team.
Describe the delivery route, unloading area, proposed tower position and space available to the installation team. Ask the installer to establish the lifting method, equipment and conditions covered by its erection plan.
Retain access for the planned inspection and service arrangement. The qualified installation team should use the model-specific lifting and assembly instructions; this page does not provide lifting loads, anchor settings or a substitute erection sequence.
05 / Cables & scope
Define mechanical and electrical work boundaries.
Identify cable routes between the turbine, controller, converter and connection point.
Identify cable routes between the turbine, controller, converter and connection point. Record where drawings establish routing, support, protection and any rotation-management provisions. The electrical design must match the selected configuration.
Compare proposals with a shared scope list covering the tower, foundation, lifting, cables, earthing work, documents and handover. Use the RFQ preparation guide to identify supplied items and local project responsibilities.
06 / Handover
Keep an installation record for the completed assembly.
Before work starts, agree the drawings, inspection records and completion documents needed for handover.
Before work starts, agree the drawings, inspection records and completion documents needed for handover. Retain turbine and tower identities, drawing revisions, installed-component information and the installer’s records.
The subsequent commissioning review should use this installed configuration. Installation planning, commissioning acceptance and routine maintenance are separate stages with their own agreed responsibilities.
Related project guides: Wind Turbine Commissioning & Handover Checklist · Small Wind Turbine Maintenance Planning Guide · Wind Turbine RFQ & Equipment Procurement Guide.
Further project guides: Wind Turbine Foundation Design Inputs & Site Records · Wind Turbine Rotor Clearance & Three-Dimensional Layout · Wind Turbine Transport, Delivery & Pre-Installation Storage · Wind Turbine Lightning Protection & Earthing Interfaces.
Further project guides: Small Wind Turbine Mechanical Loads: Forces, Moments & Cases · Wind Turbine Tower Dynamics: Frequencies, Modes & Excitation · Wind Turbine Extreme-Wind Design: Site Data & Operating Limits · Wind Project Engineering Documents: Revisions & Review Status · Small Wind Installer & System Integrator Selection.
Review operator handover and training, end-of-service material and site planning and retrofit interfaces and configuration review as separate lifecycle work scopes.
General background: DOE Small Wind Guidebook. These references explain industry concepts; they are separate from the applicable MARSTON product and project documents.
Prepare the information for this review.
Use the checklist to organise the project information. Mark unavailable items and retain document references.
| Review item | Information to provide | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Model & drawings | Turbine identity and tower-interface revision | Establish the assembly being designed. |
| Site & height | Coordinates, hub height and obstacle information | Relate the tower to the proposed site. |
| Ground information | Available survey and ground reports | Provide inputs for the responsible foundation designer. |
| Installation access | Route, unloading, lifting and service space | Establish the work conditions. |
| Supply responsibilities | Tower, foundation, erection, cabling and handover | Compare the same project scope. |
Engineering questions.
Is a tower included with every turbine?
The quotation defines the supply scope. MARSTON can coordinate with tower suppliers; establish the tower supplier, design responsibility and included documentation.
Can one tower be used for different turbine models?
Compatibility needs review of the interface, load information and tower design for the selected model. Similar mounting dimensions alone are insufficient.
What tower height should I choose?
Use the site wind information, obstacle exposure and installation constraints to discuss the height with the site assessor and tower designer.
Can I copy foundation dimensions from another project?
Use the foundation design applicable to the actual turbine, tower and ground conditions. A previous project is not a substitute for that design.
What should the installer receive?
The model-specific assembly instructions, applicable turbine and tower drawings, load and interface information, and the agreed project work scope.
Does MARSTON provide all local installation work?
Local installation and engineering responsibilities must be agreed in the proposal. Do not assume they are included in the equipment supply.
Technical enquiry
Bring your project information to the discussion.
Plan the tower as part of the complete wind turbine installation. Share the available information and the equipment scope you want reviewed in a technical quotation.