HIAB CRANES ARE “TURBINE-CHARGING” CLEAN ENERGY

Offshore wind power is a growing force in meeting global clean energy needs. HIAB is right there with it.

Servicing offshore wind farms is a hazardous and unpredictable task—think sea swells, extreme temperatures, winds, and weather conditions, as well as remote locations that can be as far as 100 km from the nearest land. Keeping the turbines running requires highly specialized equipment that can reliably withstand the intense conditions. HIAB SWP cranes are purpose-built for the job—ruggedly durable and capable of a range of unique lift and load operations, from hoisting equipment from sea level to managing deliveries on helicopter pads at the top of the turbines.

A report by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) in April 2025 highlights the growing force of these installations, indicating rapid growth in the global wind energy sector in 2023 and 2024. Last year, capacity increased by 117 GW, reaching a record high of 1,136 gigawatts. Future forecasts are even more “turbine-charged,” expecting almost one terawatt of energy by 2030—enough clean, sustainable, renewable energy to power a large city, a small country, or potentially millions of homes. Even so, that number is still a long way from meeting the United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) goals.

“We are not going fast enough,” Jonathan Cole, Chair of GWEC, says in the report’s foreword.

HIAB is stepping up to the challenge. In 2024, USD 5.4 million (CAD 7,418,499) of its SWP cranes were successfully nestled into the nacelles (the covering that houses the generating components of the turbines) of offshore wind turbines, put to work and proven. HIAB has now signed a €23.5 million (CAD 37,421,047) deal to supply its SWP cranes to wind farms in the UK, Taiwan, the US, Germany, and Denmark over the next three years.

Creating specialized cranes for specialized needs, such as wind turbines, is just one of the many ways HIAB is helping to contribute to a cleaner future. We’re proud to be synonymous with the HIAB brand in Canada. They are making a difference. And that’s not just hot air.