The equation for wind power is quite simple: Bigger is better. To be able to harness more wind energy at a cheaper price one of the best ways to reduce cost is to build taller. The winds are stronger, the turbine becomes more effective and the energy produced is more cost-efficient.
But with higher towers come big challenges – in production, transport and assembly – that the industry needs to overcome. That’s where Modvion comes in. We have the solution and the know-how to build tall wind power towers made of wood.
As wind towers have risen above 100 metres in height, transportation poses considerable problems, not least that the base diameters exceed the limit for transport width in most parts of the USA and the EU. Our modular concept means the towers are delivered to site in – tada – modules! A bit like IKEA for wind turbine towers.
Although the market would like to build taller towers, the cost of building tall towers in traditional materials is too expensive. The extra height squeezes the margins to the point that energy producers end up choosing shorter, less-efficient, towers.
Our solution uses engineered wood that is lighter although as strong as steel. That means extra height no longer comes with expensive reinforcements or maintenance. Building higher finally becomes both more efficient and cost-effective. In fact, using a wooden modular solution only becomes more beneficial the higher you go.
Modvion towers are built from laminated wood, making the CO2 emissions for the tower component negative. Meaning our towers reduce the carbon footprint for the whole turbine by more than 25%. Conventional towers make up the biggest share of CO2 emissions from wind power. With steel and concrete responsible for 15% of global CO2 emissions*, changing from these emission-intensive materials has a huge impact.
The life cycle emissions from a 110m tall wind turbine tower of steel is approximately 1 250 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The corresponding tower in wood emits 90% less emissions, which means around 125 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The wood is also storing carbon and therefore acts as a carbon sink. When you take that into account, the tower stores more CO2 than it emits.
*Source: New York Times
Part of the solution
The total lifecycle emissions from wind power are dominated by the raw materials and components. Producing a wooden tower generates 90% less CO2 emissions than a traditional one in steel of the same height and load.
Since the earliest days of modern wind power, turbines have been growing. For good reason! Not only are larger turbines more cost-efficient, but they also reduce the total area needed to produce a certain amount of energy, greatly increasing the potential output per suitable land area.
If you chop down a tree and burn it, it will release its stored carbon directly. But if you put that wood to use in a demanding construction that will be standing for decades, the carbon will also be stored for decades.
Enel Green Power is a global sustainable leader in the green energy sector with a global presence in 26 countries in 5 continents, operating more than 1,200 plants with a managed capacity of over 54 GW across a generation mix which includes wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower, and is at the forefront of integrating innovative technologies into renewable power plants. Enel Green Power is a strategic partner that enables communities, companies and end users to move towards sustainable living, driving the shift towards a decarbonised society and actively contributing to the development and wellbeing of the many geographical areas where it operates. Modvion has a cooperation agreement in place with Enel Green Power and they are an important partner for our global expansion.
Vattenfall are investing heavily in wind power, with 5 GW of new production planned over the coming years. They work to ensure that the energy market is broad and competitive, connecting us with various wind power manufacturers like Siemens Gamesa, Nordex, General Electric and Enercon. We have an ongoing collaboration with the ambition of having our towers included within their supply chain and appearing on Vattenfalls onshore wind farms.
Vestas is the world’s leading producer of wind turbines and invested in Modvion in 2021. Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions. They design, manufacture, install, and service wind turbines across the globe, and with +157 GW of wind turbines in 88 countries, they have installed more wind power than anyone else. This important collaboration aims to bring wooden wind towers to market as fast as possible.
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info@modvion.com
Address:
Transportgatan 39
422 46 Gothenburg
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No. 959151.
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