In short
- EU standard road loads: up to 2.55 m wide, 4.0 m high including the trailer, 16.5 m articulated (Directive 96/53/EC).
- Wider or taller loads need permits; beyond about 3.5 m wide or 4.5 m high expect escorts and route surveys.
- A 20 MW project with 1 MW pods needs roughly 110–115 truckloads of modules.
- Splitting a module is often cheaper than moving an abnormal load.
Container and road limits
| Envelope | Length | Width | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft container (inside) | 5.90 m | 2.35 m | 2.39 m | Small edge modules, spares |
| 40 ft high cube (inside) | 12.03 m | 2.35 m | 2.69 m | Containerised UPS, batteries, edge |
| EU standard road vehicle | 16.5 m artic. | 2.55 m | 4.0 m total | Directive 96/53/EC; height includes the trailer |
| Oversize load | longer | up to ~3.5 m | up to ~4.5 m | National permits |
| Abnormal load | route-specific | beyond ~3.5 m | beyond ~4.5 m | Escorts, route survey, night moves |
Oversize thresholds are indicative and set nationally. Check a module envelope in the logistics section.
The height trap
The 4.0 m limit includes the trailer deck. A module 3.0 m tall on a 0.9 m deck is 3.9 m overall and still a standard load; the same module on a 1.2 m deck is oversize. Low-loaders with decks around 0.5–0.9 m buy back that margin. Width and height usually decide the module; length is easier to manage.
Counting truckloads for a 20 MW project
| Item | Rule | Count |
|---|---|---|
| White-space pods of 1 MW | 20 MW ÷ 1 MW | 20 pods |
| Pod shipping sections | 4 sections per MW × 20 | 80 loads |
| Power skids of 2.5 MVA, N+1 | 20 MW × PUE 1.3 ÷ (2.5 MVA × 0.95) = 11, + 1 | 12 loads |
| Cooling modules of 1,000 kW | 20,000 ÷ 1,000 + 1 | 21 loads |
| Total | 113 loads |
With 2N power the skids double to 22 and the total rises to 123. Sections per MW depend on the product; ask the supplier.
Cranes, laydown and sequencing
- Cranes: heavy power skids and transformers can weigh 20–40 t or more; crane size depends on weight and reach, so plan crane positions and ground bearing early.
- Laydown: keep space for a few days of deliveries; modules should go straight from truck to foundation where possible.
- Sequence: power first, then cooling, then white space, matching the order of commissioning.
- Weather: plan lifting windows; wind limits stop crane work.
- Protection: modules arrive sealed; keep them dry and closed until connected.
Joints on site
Good modular design keeps site connections few and simple: busway or cable joints, flanged pipework and pre-terminated network links. Joints are sealed against weather and fire, torque-checked and documented, then proven with the rest of the system in the site integrated test.
Questions about module transport
What is the largest module that can go by road?
Without permits, 2.55 m wide and 4.0 m high including the trailer in the EU. With permits and escorts much larger loads move, but cost and route limits grow fast.
Can modules be shipped by sea?
Yes. Container-sized units go as standard freight; larger skids travel as breakbulk or on flat racks, then by road from the port.
How heavy is a power skid?
It depends on the rating and whether the transformer is on the skid. Ask the supplier early; weight sets the crane and the trailer.
Should I split a large module?
Often yes. Two standard loads with one site joint are usually cheaper and faster than one abnormal load with escorts and a route survey.
Sources
- Directive 96/53/EC (EU maximum dimensions); typical ISO container inside dimensions.
- Load counts follow the module planner on this site; sections per MW are an assumption to edit.
- Oversize thresholds are indicative and set nationally.