World's tallest wood turbine begins operation

Modvion, the Swedish startup building the world's tallest wood turbine tower, uses wood to harness wind energy with great potential in the future.

Modvion's wood turbine has a capacity of 2 megawatts. Photo: Modvion — Modvion's wood turbine has a capacity of 2 megawatts. Photo: *Modvion*

Modvion's brand new turbine, installed near Gothenburg, stands 150 metres tall from the base of the tower to the tip of its tallest blade. A 2 megawatt generator at the top of the turbine has already started supplying electricity to the Swedish grid, enough to power about 400 homes. Otto Lundman, the company's chief executive, hopes to increase the height of the wooden turbine even further, the BBC reported on December 28.

On the horizon near Modvion’s project, several similarly shaped turbines spin. Instead of wood, they are primarily made of steel, like most turbine towers in the world. Strong and durable, steel allows for the construction of giant turbines, and wind farms can be located both onshore and offshore. But steel has its limitations, especially for land-based projects.

As demand for taller turbines, capturing stronger winds with larger generators, has increased the diameter of the steel cylindrical tower that supports the structure, and with the route riddled with tunnels, bridges and roundabouts, many operators are finding it difficult to transport the massive metal to the turbine site, limiting the height of steel turbines.

From the outside, the Modvion’s wooden turbine and its steel counterpart are virtually indistinguishable. Both have thick white coatings for protection, and both have mostly fiberglass blades attached to generators that produce electricity as the blades spin. Only when viewed from inside the turbine tower do the differences become apparent. The tower walls are clad in rough wood. Lundman says a big advantage of the turbine is that, by using wood and glue, the tower can be built in smaller, more transportable modules. This makes it easier to build tall towers and transport them to difficult locations.

But more parts require more trucks, workers, and time to install, says Dr. Maximilian Schnippering, sustainability director at Siemens Gamesa, one of the world’s largest turbine manufacturers. Schnippering sees the modular system as an advantage, and says a wooden tower can complement a steel tower. Steel can be used for modular designs, but joining the parts adds to costs and maintenance.

Modvion’s turbine tower uses about 200 trees. Modvion says it hopes to build a taller turbine soon and open a facility to produce 100 modular wood turbines a year by 2027.

An Khang (According to BBC )

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