This guide sets out what needs to be done before a trailer-mounted turbine arrives, from ground conditions and access to fuel, grid connections and permits.
Start with a site survey
A site survey records the ground, levels, drainage, existing services, access routes and the location of the fuel and electrical connection points. It identifies obstacles such as overhead lines, buried pipes and nearby buildings that affect layout and safety.
Use the survey to agree the layout with the turbine supplier and the owner before any civil work starts.
Ground bearing capacity
Trailer-mounted units are heavy, and their weight is concentrated on axles and support jacks. The ground must carry those loads without settling unevenly. A geotechnical check, even a simple one, shows whether the natural ground is adequate or needs improvement.
Where the ground is weak, options include excavating and replacing soft material, compacting a stone pad or placing a concrete slab or heavy mats under the jacks.
A level, well-drained pad
Units must sit level within the supplier’s tolerance so that rotating machinery and lubrication systems work correctly. A compacted aggregate pad with a slight fall for drainage is common for short deployments; longer stays may justify concrete.
Make sure rainwater drains away from the pad, cable routes and fuel connections. Standing water undermines the pad and creates hazards.
Access route and turning space
Heavy-haul trailers need a route from the public road to the pad with enough width, gradient, turning radius and overhead clearance. Bridges, culverts and soft verges along the route may need checking or strengthening.
Plan space on site for the trailers to manoeuvre and for a crane if one is needed to place auxiliary modules. Our article on receiving mobile gas turbine equipment on site covers arrival day.
Layout and clearances
The layout must respect the supplier’s clearances for maintenance, air intake and exhaust, fire separation and safe access. Air intakes should face away from dust sources and exhaust from other units. Allow space for the control and switchgear trailers, fuel conditioning and any step-up transformer.
Consider future units. A layout that leaves room for a second or third trailer is easy to plan now and hard to add later.
Fuel connection
Gas-fired units need a gas supply at the right pressure, flow and quality, often with a pressure regulating and metering skid near the units. Liquid fuel units, or dual-fuel units with backup, need storage, unloading, transfer pumps and spill containment.
Confirm the fuel specification with the supplier and arrange gas analysis or fuel testing before the units arrive.
Electrical connection
The units must connect to the grid or to the load, often through a step-up transformer and switchgear. Plan the cable routes, protection, earthing and the interface with the network operator or the owner’s substation early, because grid approvals can take longer than civil work.
Our page on mobile gas turbines for substation support explains common connection arrangements.
Earthing and lightning protection
A proper earthing grid protects people and equipment during faults and lightning strikes. The turbine trailers, switchgear and transformers must all bond to it. Test the earth resistance before energisation.
In areas with frequent storms, lightning protection for tall elements such as exhaust stacks is worth considering.
Noise, exhaust and neighbours
Mobile turbines are loud and produce a hot exhaust plume. Check distances to homes, offices and sensitive receptors, and plan noise barriers or attenuation if limits would be exceeded. Exhaust must not affect nearby buildings, intakes or overhead lines.
Early engagement with neighbours and the local authority often prevents later objections.
Security, permits and timeline
Fence the site, light it and control access. Obtain the environmental, air quality, construction and grid permits required locally, and allow time for them in the schedule.
Build a timeline that shows survey, design, permits, civil works, connections and arrival in sequence. Our article on TM2500 deployment timelines gives an example of how these steps fit together.
Water, compressed air and auxiliary supplies
Some mobile units need demineralised water for NOx control or for washing, compressed air for instruments and a small auxiliary supply for lighting, heaters and controls before the turbine runs. Find out exactly which auxiliary services the supplier expects the site to provide, and arrange storage, treatment and connection points before arrival.
A small diesel set is often needed to power the site before the turbine is running, and to provide black start capability if the grid is unavailable.
Handover from civils to installation
Before the trailers leave their last staging point, walk the site with the supplier’s installation lead. Check pad levels, jack locations, access route, cable and fuel terminations, earthing test results and permits on hand. A short checklist signed by both parties confirms the site is ready and avoids heavy equipment arriving at a site that cannot yet receive it.
Record any open items with a clear owner and date, so that they are closed before the units are connected.
About the authors
These notes come from our mobile power engineers, who prepare sites and deploy trailer-mounted turbines for utilities, mines and industry. Site work of this kind is part of the EPC and O&M scope USP&E performs directly, not as a broker, with 150+ power projects in 45+ countries, 24+ years of deployments and 25,000 MW contracted since 2002. Our project delivery is described on the EPC projects page.
Offices: Colorado Springs (1755 Telstar Dr, Suite 300), Knoxville (800 S Gay St, Suite 700), London (162-168 Regent Street), Johannesburg (22 Kildoon Rd, Bryanston), Cape Town (31 Brickfield Road, Woodstock) and China (No. 1 Ningzhou Road, Wuxi). Regions: USA | AFRICA | UK | UAE | CHINA. ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certified.
Mobile gas turbine site questions
Does a mobile gas turbine need a concrete foundation?
Not always. A well compacted aggregate pad or heavy mats under the jacks can be enough for shorter stays if the ground bearing capacity is adequate. Longer deployments may justify concrete.
What access does a heavy-haul trailer need?
Enough road width, gradient, turning radius and overhead clearance from the public road to the pad, with bridges and culverts checked for the load.
What fuel connections are needed?
A gas supply at the right pressure, flow and quality, usually with a regulating and metering skid, or liquid fuel storage and transfer for liquid or dual-fuel units.
What usually delays a mobile turbine deployment?
Grid connection approvals, permits and fuel supply are common causes. Start them early and run them alongside civil works.
Prepare your site
Send the site plan, ground information and connection details, and our engineers will help plan the site preparation and arrival sequence.
If a document set is easier than a conversation, send it to info@uspeglobal.com or upload a summary through the mobile power enquiry form; to talk it over, dial +27 10 822 2324. Mobile and packaged units are listed in our gas turbine inventory.
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