World’s Largest Wooden Wind Turbine Tower was Officially Inaugurated
The landmark event took place on Monday, March 4th, at the site of installation located just outside Skara, Sweden. Modvions innovative 103-meter-high wooden, modular turbine tower supporting a Vestas V90-2.0 MW turbine represents a paradigm shift in the wind power industry, offering unprecedented opportunities for taller structures and enhanced wind harvesting capabilities. By supporting the European Union’s sustainability goals, the achievement also underscores a transformative milestone in renewable energy technology. Modvion will next bring the technology to the largest 6+MW onshore turbines, opening vast market opportunities.
The inauguration ceremony for the Wind of Change was a milestone and a fantastic event, bringing together partners and distinguished guests such as Emma Wiesner, Member of the European Parliament, renowned leader Henrik Andersen, President and CEO of Vestas Wind Systems, along with other industry leaders, innovators and advocates, both Swedish and international. The day was expertly led by Daniel Badman, CEO of the Swedish Wind Energy Association.
Modvion, the visionary force behind the Wind of Change, proudly unveils the next generation of tall wooden turbine towers to the market, signalling a significant advancement in renewable energy technology.
Modvion accelerate the transition to renewable energy and materials. The installation of this first multi-MW wooden turbine tower demonstrates the readiness in Modvions technolgy. Now with Wind of Change in operation, Modvion is ready for scale and on track to revolutionize the wind industry by enabling greater modularity, wind harvesting and advancing sustainability goals.” Otto Lundman, CEO Modvion
The demand for taller and more efficient wind turbines is evident. In North European markets as Sweden, Germany and Finland the market volume is already 6+ MW units/150+ m hub hight and increasing. Global average turbine size is forecasted to double from 3.4 MW in 2021 to 6.6 MW by 2030. Average tower heights are expected to reach 160-170 meters by 2027 and continue increasing thereafter. Taller turbines are simply more effective in capturing wind energy, while larger turbines generate more energy at a lower cost.
Wooden turbine towers offer a promising path to decarbonization and can potentially push us forward in creating a net-zero wind energy supply chain. This is of course important to balance with industrialization but it is interesting as a collaboration partner to witness the progress on this front as we keep pushing the boundaries of the energy transition together. Lisa Malmquist Ekstrand – Vice President, Head of Sustainability
Modvions innovative modular tower construction, certified by third party and according to industry standards, offers hub heights of 200 meters and beyond, addressing the needs of tomorrow. This game-changing innovation has the potential to reshape the wind energy landscape. By modularizing tower construction, Modvion simplifies transportation using standard trucks on standard roads.
In addition, by switching to a wooden tower, carbon emissions are reduced dramatically during manufacturing while the material itself stores carbon. The result is a carbon negative component, storing more CO2 than is emitted during production. The laminated wood that the modules are made from has a better strength-to-weight ratio than the types of steel used for wind turbine towers, enabling lighter towers. The technology enables cost-effective and tall towers compared to traditional steel towers.
Modvion extends genuine gratitude to the +120 distinguished guests who contributed to making the inauguration of the Wind of Change a truly special day. Their support and enthusiasm emphasize the shared commitment to a sustainable future.
Project specification – Wind of Change
Hub Height 105m
Tower Height 103.3m
Base Diameter 5.65m
Turbine
Vestas V90-2.0MW
Rotor Diameter 90m
Location
Skara, Sweden
Facts on wooden wind turbine towers can be found here.
For more information, please contact:
Ulla Hedman Andrén
Communications Manager
ulla.hedman@modvion.com
M: +46 706 032 04 50
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About Modvion
Swedish wood technology company Modvion develops demanding designs made of laminated wood, nature’s carbon fibre, for large-scale applications. Wooden designs enable radical reductions in emissions by replacing emission-heavy materials such as steel and concrete. Thanks to their patented module system, Modvion has been able to develop cost-effective wind turbine towers and more efficient transportation for installations of tall towers. The operation is part-financed by the Swedish Energy Agency, the Västra Götaland region, and the EU program Horizon 2020 EIC Accelerator.
