12 Mobile Cranes Craft the Future of Sustainable Energy in Delft

A dozen mobile cranes from Boer B.V. — with lifting capacities ranging from 90 to 400 metric tons — have been tirelessly at work in Delft in the Netherlands, laying down a critical 1-kilometer-long pipeline. This pipeline, crafted with a predefined curvature, marks a significant milestone in the expansion of the district heating network, a key component of the region's transition towards sustainable energy sources.

Under the watchful eye of Richard Rijbroek, an environmental manager at Denys, and with Nederlandse Gasunie NV as the client, preparations for the ambitious "WarmtelinQ" project have been in motion for three years. The vision behind this endeavor is to harness residual heat from industry in the bustling port of Rotterdam and waste incineration plants to provide warmth to homes and businesses across South Holland. Stretching from Rotterdam to The Hague via Vlaardingen, this pipeline serves as the lifeline for this sustainable energy initiative.

The intricate process of bending the pipeline into its predefined curve required a delicate orchestration of machinery and expertise. Harm van Dijk, project manager at Boer B.V., sheds light on the intricacies involved: "We are drilling a bore here for the heating network, with a drill head installed on one side of the 1,000-meter-long district heating pipeline. Each crane plays a crucial role in lifting and positioning the pipeline with utmost precision, ensuring it is drilled into the ground at the defined angle."

To achieve the exact curvature needed, a retractable arch spanning 275 meters was meticulously formed using ten cranes, each capable of lifting 18 metric tons. The choice of machinery, ranging from 90 to 400 metric tons in lifting capacity, was carefully selected to accommodate the varying demands of the project. Challenges such as navigating motorways and bridges along the route necessitated innovative solutions, including storing sections of the pipeline on containers at sufficient heights.