Mobile Crane Hire for BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems)
Deploying utility-scale battery storage is complex. Cadman Cranes brings proven BESS project experience and a complete lifting solution, so your battery containers, transformers, skids and kiosks move from transport to foundations safely, sustainably, on programme, and with minimal site disruption.
To enquire abour your project, email our resident BESS expert, Phil Robinson, by clicking the button below.
Why Cadman Cranes for your battery storage project?
- BESS-savvy planning: We understand typical equipment such as battery containers, PCS and transformer stations, MV/HV terminations, and the constraints that slow projects, including access, ground conditions, delivery sequencing and conflicting drawings.
- Contract lifting: Choose a fully managed Contract Lift that includes an Appointed Person (AP), lift plans, RAMS, insurance and supervision.
- Right crane, first time: We can supply a range of solutions to meet your projects requirements, from all-terrain cranes for heavy containerised systems and large transformers to compact-crawlers or spider cranes for tight compounds.
- Ground pressure and matting: We calculate outrigger loads and provide the correct mats to protect sub-bases and buried services, and we work with your civils or temporary works designer.
- Nationwide, rapid mobilisation: UK-wide support with quick call-outs and late-cancellation cover.
- Grid aware: We coordinate lifts to fit your DNO or ICP programme and adapt to changing grid-connection timelines.
- Transportation support: We can arrange collection and delivery of your BESS units and associated equipment, for example, collecting from port and transporting to site before installation, providing a complete logistics and lifting solution.
- Sustainability: We are Net Zero and run our cranes and support vehicles on HVO as standard, significantly reducing CO₂e compared with fossil diesel; fuel certification available on request.
Jacob Turner, Electrical Project Engineer
“Incredibly impressed by their service and flexibility. Cadman were fantastic with offloading our BESS site equipment and were very helpful with accommodating our flexible program. Couldn’t recommend enough. Thanks guys”
What we lift on BESS sites
- Battery containers: Modern BESS units often carry around 5 MWh and can weigh up to approximately 45 tonnes depending on manufacturer and configuration. This drives crane size, rigging choice and ground bearing checks.
- PCS and transformer stations, kiosks and skids: Often containerised or skid mounted. Lifts require precise lifting-point data and centre of gravity confirmation from manufacturer drawings.
- Transformers and inductors: Managed as single lifts or tandem lifts where required.
Our BESS lifting process
1. Tender service: Drawings, delivery plan and certified weights, lifting points, rigging diagrams and installation sequence.
2. Site survey: Access, crane positions, slew radius, overhead services, exclusions, permits and traffic management.
3. Engineering: Lift plan, crane selection, rigging design, ground bearing pressure checks and outrigger mat sizing.
4. Safety and compliance: Appointed Person to plan RAMS & Lift Plans to LOLER and BS 7121 best practice.
5. Execution: Lift supervisor, slingers, signallers and escorts.
Supporting the UK’s transition to net zero power
Typical challenges we solve
BESS compounds are often tight. We typically position an all-terrain crane in a fixed location on site and offload containers as the customer’s transport arrives. Ground conditions vary by site; commonly we use outrigger mats to manage bearing pressures but can specify additional trackway if required. When programme pressure is high, we adjust crew timings and lift order to align with deliveries and protect commissioning windows.
Compliance and safety
Every lift is meticulously planned and executed in full compliance with LOLER and BS 7121 standards. For contract lifts, we provide comprehensive documentation, including detailed method statements, risk assessments, and lift plans, ensuring complete transparency and control. Our team manages all required permits and insurance, coordinating closely with site management to guarantee safe, compliant, and efficient lifting operations, regardless of project complexity or location.
FAQs: Mobile crane hire for BESS projects
Moving BESS equipment and containerised batteries requires expertise and careful planning. This FAQ section addresses some of the most common questions regarding our crane support for your battery storage sites.
If you have any specific questions or require a personalised quote, don’t hesitate to contact our team.
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This depends on certified weight, radius and rigging. Many 20 ft, approximately 5 MWh containers quote up to about 43 tonnes. At modest radii this often indicates a 200-tonne class all-terrain crane. We model each lift with your OEM data.
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Yes. Our Contract Lift includes the Appointed Person, lift plan, RAMS, insurance, lift supervisor and rigging team. If you have in-house planning and supervision, we can supply a crane on CPA Crane Hire terms.
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Yes. We calculate outrigger reactions and specify mats or trackway to reduce bearing pressures to an acceptable level for your surface build-up.
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Yes. We regularly lift both. We will request OEM drawings showing lifting points and centre of gravity and confirm certified weights before finalising the method and rigging.
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A standard empty 20 ft container has a well-known maximum gross figure, but a populated BESS can be significantly heavier. Plan to the certified system weight rather than a generic container value.
Case Study – Copwood VFB Energy Hub
The UK’s transition to a low-carbon energy system depends on new forms of energy storage being delivered safely and efficiently. At the Copwood VFB Energy Hub in East Sussex, Cadman Cranes supported the installation of a major renewable energy project that will become the largest vanadium flow battery facility in Europe. Read the full case study to see how detailed lift planning, specialist equipment and close collaboration helped bring this landmark energy storage scheme to life.
What to send us for a fast quote
- Certified weights and centre of gravity for each unit, including containers, transformers and PCS.
- A GA or setting-out drawing with set-down coordinates and clearances.
And what we’ll need in addition for a detailed quotation:
- Site photos or video, surface build-ups and any temporary works information.
- Delivery vehicle types and times, and traffic management constraints.
- Preferred dates, programme dependencies and the commissioning window.
Require specialist crane hire for BESS equipment?
For more information on our BESS lifting services or to discuss a project, contact us directly.
