Renewable energy boom 2026: which access equipment for wind, PV and biomass?

More than 60 percent of Germany's electricity comes from renewable sources in 2026. Wind and photovoltaics are growing at record pace – and with them the need for installation, maintenance and inspection. All of this requires one basic prerequisite: safe access at height. But which equipment is the right choice for which type of installation?

The figures from the German regulator Bundesnetzagentur speak for themselves: in 2025 alone, 17.7 GW of photovoltaics and 5.3 GW of wind power were newly installed in Germany. The share of renewables in Germany's public net electricity generation will exceed the 60 percent mark in 2026. Germany's Renewable Energy Sources Act EEG 2026 continues the expansion incentives – with adjusted support rates and new rules for negative exchange prices.

What often gets lost in the political debate: behind every kilowatt hour lies installation work at height. Every wind turbine must be serviced regularly. Every roof with a solar obligation needs a safe access solution. And every biogas plant must be inspected. Demand for professional access equipment grows with the expansion of renewable energy – directly and proportionally.

Wind turbines place the most demanding requirements on access equipment. Modern onshore turbines reach hub heights of 160 metres and more, with rotor blades reaching up to 240 metres. Specialised solutions are needed here.

Aerial work platforms and lifting platforms for tower work

For maintenance work on the tower – renewing coatings, repairing damage, checking cable systems – high-performance aerial work platforms with outreach of over 100 metres are used. Truck-mounted telescopic platforms provide fast access to defined work areas without elaborate climbing equipment. They are particularly efficient when several turbines in a wind farm are serviced one after another.

Rope access for rotor blades

Rope access is the standard for inspecting and repairing rotor blades. Trained industrial climbers with IRATA or FISAT certification work on ropes along blades up to 80 metres long. They can detect cracks, erosion damage and lightning protection defects and repair them directly on site – without a crane, without scaffolding, with minimal time required.

Rotor blade access systems as a special solution

For systematic inspections of larger wind farms, operators increasingly rely on special rotor blade access systems. These travel mechanically guided along the blade surface and enable structured documentation. Drones are also used for external inspection – but classic access equipment remains indispensable as soon as repairs are needed.

PV installation divides into two fundamentally different scenarios, each with its own requirements for access equipment.

Aerial work platforms for roof and facade installation

On pitched roofs and facades, the same rules apply as for any other roof work: collective protection takes priority, leaning ladders are prohibited as a workplace. Electric articulating boom lifts and trailer-mounted platforms offer fast access without local emissions – ideal for single buildings and smaller projects without elaborate scaffolding.

Spider lifts for ground-mounted solar parks

Ground-mounted solar parks pose different challenges: the terrain is often uneven, access is limited, and the modules are close to the ground yet in an area hard to reach for regular vehicles. Spider lifts with low ground pressure and high off-road capability are the first choice here – they move safely between the module rows and lift installers safely to working height.

Telehandlers and crawler cranes for heavy components

During the initial installation of larger ground-mounted solar parks, heavy inverters, transformer containers and mounting structures must be positioned precisely. Telehandlers and crawler cranes handle the large components, while aerial work platforms support the installation work.

Biogas plants, wood-fired heating plants and biomass power plants are less visible than wind and solar installations – but their maintenance needs are just as real. Boiler systems, flues, silos and digesters must be regularly inspected and maintained.

Depending on plant size, aerial work platforms, mobile scaffolding or rope access techniques are used. For silos and digesters, internal inspections are often unavoidable – specialised equipment is needed here that copes with both confined spaces and fall risks. Industrial climbers with experience in confined vessels (confined space) are indispensable for such jobs.

Installation type	Typical height	Recommended access solution
Wind turbine tower	80-160 m	Truck-mounted platform, tower-internal lifts
Wind turbine rotor blade	up to 240 m	Rope access (IRATA/FISAT)
PV pitched roof	5-15 m	Scaffolding, trailer-mounted platform
PV flat roof	5-20 m	Scissor lift, edge protection
PV ground-mounted park	2-5 m	Spider lift, telehandler
Biomass silo / digester	10-30 m	Aerial work platform, confined-space rope access
Biomass chimney / boiler	10-50 m	Scaffolding, rope access

Regardless of the type of installation, clear legal requirements apply to all work at height under Government Regulation No. 147/2013 Coll.:

• Collective before individual protection – scaffolding, aerial work platform or edge protection take priority over PPE

• Risk assessment is mandatory before work starts

• Competence: FISAT Level 1-3, IRATA and other professional certificates – depending on the field of work

• STN EN 13374 governs temporary edge protection systems (classes A-C)

• The National Labour Inspectorate provides guidance and practical aids on safety for work at height

For wind turbines, the following also applies: operators are responsible for the safety of all persons who enter or climb their installations – including third-party companies and maintenance service providers.

The energy transition creates work – on the roof, on the tower, in the solar park and at the biogas plant. Operators or service providers who want to be professionally equipped need access to the right access solutions for every job.

Whether a spider lift for the solar park, a telescopic boom lift for the wind tower or rope access for the rotor blade – choosing the right access equipment determines the efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness of every project.

Get advice now: Our experts will find the right access solution for your installation – whether wind, solar or biomass.

Which access equipment is most commonly used on wind turbines?
For tower work up to approx. 100 m, truck-mounted platforms or tower-integrated lifts are standard. For rotor blades, rope access to IRATA or FISAT is the common method – it allows work at heights of 200+ metres without heavy equipment.

Do ground-mounted solar parks need a lifting platform?
Not necessarily for every task, but for initial installation and regular maintenance, spider lifts are the most efficient solution. They are off-road capable, have low ground pressure and do not need paved access roads.

How much does using an aerial work platform for solar installations cost?
Trailer-mounted platforms from approx. €100 / day, truck-mounted platforms from €250 / day, spider lifts from €300 / day – each excluding transport costs. For a PV maintenance project with 1-2 days of use, costs of €300-1,500 are realistic.

Which certificates do industrial climbers need for wind turbines?
At least FISAT Level 1 or IRATA Level 1, supplemented by GWO certification (Global Wind Organisation) for offshore work. Further professional certificates, such as OPITO, are added for specific tasks.

Is rope access safer than aerial work platforms?
Both methods are safe when used correctly. Rope access is more flexible on hard-to-reach structures, while aerial work platforms offer a more stable workplace. The risk assessment decides which method is permissible and appropriate for the job.

What impact does Germany's EEG 2026 have on demand for maintenance services?
Due to the sharp rise in installed systems (2025 alone in Germany: 17.7 GW PV, 5.3 GW wind), the maintenance backlog is growing. Installations from the boom years 2020-2025 are now entering the maintenance cycle – meaning sharply rising demand for maintenance and inspection services until 2030.