The first wooden wind power tower is ready
Sweden’s first wooden wind tower has been erected. It has been delivered by Modvion, a promising and growing member company of Paper Province. The wood construction is as strong as steel and makes the wind turbine climate neutral from the start.
Sweden’s first wooden wind power tower. Photo: Modvion
Paper Province helped Modvion launch their idea of wooden wind power constructions a few years ago. Now, the first tower has been erected outside Gothenburg.
“This is a major breakthrough that paves the way for the next generation of wind turbines. Laminated wood is stronger than steel at the same weight and by building in modules, the wind turbines can be taller. By building in wood, we also reduce carbon dioxide emissions in manufacturing and store carbon dioxide in the design”, says Otto Lundman, CEO at Modvion.
Taller, more efficient and cheaper
The wooden towers can be built at a much lower cost, compared to steel. The lower weight of the wood and the modular concept make it possible to transport the towers to construction sites on public roads, saving time and money.
“We can build towers that are 150 meters high at a 30 per cent lower cost. As a result, electricity generation can be increased thanks to higher wind speeds and larger rotor blades”, says Otto Lundman.
Commercial towers by 2022
The client of this first wooden tower is The Swedish Wind Power Technology Centre at Chalmers University of Technology. It is 30 meters high and will be used for research purposes. But already in 2022, the first towers will be built in commercial scale. Modvion has signed letters of intent with two Swedish energy companies; Varberg Energi for a 100 meter tower and with Rabbalshede Kraft for ten towers, at least 150 meters high.
“Wind power is expected to be EU’s largest power source as early as 2027. With wind towers in wood, we get even more climate-smart and renewable electricity to face the climate crisis”, says Ola Carlson, director of the Swedish Wind Power Technology Centre and assistant professor of renewable power generation.
The towers are manufactured at Stora Enso’s factory in Töreboda, Sweden
