Wind farms, solar farms and transmission lines combine large-scale civil works with heavy lifting, often on rural sites with limited road access. Hiring plant for renewable energy projects means planning for long internal tracks, highly repetitive tasks and lifting operations that depend on wind, rain and ground conditions.
01 / Civil plant for tracks, hardstands and foundations
Most renewable projects begin with extensive civil works: access roads, crane hardstands, laydown areas and drainage. The fleet typically includes graders, dozers, 20 to 30 tonne excavators, padfoot and smooth drum rollers, water carts and tipper or side tipper haulage for imported gravel. On wind projects, hardstands and turbine access tracks must carry very high crane and transport loads, so compaction capacity and testing become critical. Stabilising plant may be needed where in-situ material must be treated to reach design strength.
Turbine foundations involve deep excavations, dewatering, reinforcement placement and large concrete pours, so excavators with adequate reach, dewatering pumps, lighting towers for early starts and telehandlers for moving reinforcement are common. Solar farm civil work is lighter but spread across a very large footprint, with the emphasis on cable trenching, internal roads and drainage. Chain trenchers, narrow trenching buckets and cable-laying attachments suit long reticulation runs where the ground allows.
02 / Lifting and access equipment
Wind turbine erection relies on large crawler main cranes supported by assist cranes, often all-terrain units, for tailing and component handling. Main erection cranes are usually engaged under specialist contracts rather than general hire, but assist cranes, franna cranes for general lifting and EWPs for bolt tensioning and inspection are frequently hired from regional or national suppliers. The lift plan specifies crane configuration and ground bearing requirements, and those figures must flow back into the hardstand design and civil plant scope.
On solar farms the lifting profile is lighter but relentlessly repetitive. Telehandlers with forks or jibs move module pallets and tracker components, while compact track loaders distribute materials along rows. Pile-driving rigs for tracker posts are often hired with operators from specialist providers. Transmission line works bring cranes for tower erection, EWPs for stringing and hardware installation, and tensioners and pullers that are generally sourced from specialist stringing contractors rather than general hire yards.
03 / Transport routes and site access
Renewable sites are commonly located on farmland or in regional areas where local roads, bridges and culverts were not designed for heavy or oversize loads. Moving plant to site may require route assessments, NHVR permits and coordination with local councils or the state road authority, particularly where turbine components use the same route. Schedule plant deliveries so they do not clash with blade and tower convoys, and confirm any load or time restrictions on access roads.
Once inside the boundary, distances between work fronts can be considerable. Plan how plant moves between turbine positions or solar blocks, whether tracked machines may travel on finished internal roads without damaging them, and where float loading points are located. Fuel logistics need early attention: large sites often rely on mobile fuel trucks or bunded tanks, and service vehicles need reliable access to plant spread across many kilometres of tracks in all weather.
04 / Environmental, landholder and cultural heritage conditions
Renewable projects usually operate under planning approvals with environmental conditions covering clearing limits, fauna protection, erosion and sediment control, dust and noise. Operators must understand no-go zones, and some projects require spotters or ecologists during clearing. Machine hygiene is a recurring requirement to limit the spread of weeds and soil pathogens between properties, which can mean dedicated wash-down bays, documented clean-down inspections and time allowances in the plant programme.
Many projects cross land held by several landholders, each with access agreements that may restrict gates, hours or routes. A cultural heritage management plan may identify areas where ground disturbance is prohibited or where monitors must be present. Brief suppliers and operators on these obligations before mobilisation, because a machine straying outside an approved boundary can create serious consequences for the whole project and its relationship with landholders and Traditional Owners.
05 / Weather holds, scheduling and commercial terms
Wind and lightning stop lifting operations, and rain can make unsealed tracks impassable for cranes and delivery trucks. Build weather contingency into the plant programme and agree in advance how cranes and support plant are charged during wind holds. On long projects, a common approach is a long-term civil base fleet that ramps down as installation begins, supplemented by short-term peaks for specific campaigns such as hardstand construction or foundation pours.
Watch for minimum hire periods on cranes, remobilisation charges each time a unit returns, and fuel pricing on remote sites. Tyre damage on rocky tracks, windscreen chips and hydraulic hose failures are frequent claims. Clarify the process for on-site repairs, realistic breakdown response times given the distances involved, and whether the supplier will provide a substitute unit while a machine is out of action, so critical-path activities are not left waiting.
Field checklist
- Link hardstand and track specifications to crane lift plans before scoping civil plant.
- Confirm route assessments and permit requirements for oversize plant deliveries.
- Coordinate plant deliveries with major component transport schedules.
- Brief suppliers on machine hygiene, no-go zones and cultural heritage requirements.
- Agree wind-hold and wet-weather standby terms for cranes and support plant.
- Plan fuel supply and service vehicle access across the whole site.
Frequently asked questions
What plant is needed to build a solar farm?
A typical solar farm needs graders, excavators, rollers and water carts for roads and drainage, trenching equipment for cabling, pile-driving rigs for tracker or mounting posts, telehandlers for module and component handling, and compact loaders for distribution along rows. Lighting, generators, amenities and fuel storage support the work. The mix changes as the project moves from civil to mechanical and electrical installation.
Can I hire cranes locally for a wind farm?
The largest main erection cranes are usually engaged through specialist contracts by the turbine supplier or head contractor. Assist cranes, franna cranes, EWPs and telehandlers, however, are often hired from regional or national suppliers. Check that local units are rated for the lifts in the lift plan and that operators hold the appropriate high-risk work licences before committing.
Why do renewable projects require machine wash-down?
Many projects are built across agricultural or bushland properties where weeds, soil pathogens or pests can travel on plant. Planning approvals and landholder agreements often require machines to be cleaned and inspected before entering or moving between properties. Build wash-down time and facilities into the plant plan, and keep records in case the project environmental team or a landholder asks for them.
How do wind holds affect crane hire costs?
When wind speeds exceed the limits set in the lift plan, cranes cannot lift but may still be on hire. Depending on the agreement, the crane may be charged at full rate, a standby rate or a minimum daily charge. Because wind holds are routine on wind farm sites, agree how standby applies before signing and factor it into quote comparisons.