Friday, March 29, 2024

Modvion erected first 30-meter wooden wind power tower in Sweden

Critics predict that wind farms will produce more greenhouse gases in the production of concrete for their foundations and steel in their construction than they will produce electricity. The Swedish cleantech startup Modvion wants to change that.

The company has installed Sweden’s first wooden wind power tower on Björkö outside Gothenburg. The 30-meter wooden tower is intended for research purposes. The first commercial wooden wind turbines are to be built in Sweden as early as 2022.

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 instead store carbon dioxide in the design“, says Otto Lundman, CEO of Modvion AB.

Inside the Sweden's first wooden wind tower.
Inside the Sweden’s first wooden wind tower.
Credits: Modvion

Wood basically offers advantages over steel as an essential material for the construction of wind turbines. Wood is lighter, but with the appropriate processing, it is even stronger than steel. The company, offering this technology, emphasizes that it is cheaper and makes the wind turbine climate-neutral from the start compared to the use of traditional wind towers by replacing steel or concrete with a more environmentally friendly material.

Another plus of this type of construction is to be their modular design, which will facilitate transport to harder-to-reach places.

Production of the wooden tower in Sweden.
Production of the wooden tower in Sweden.
Credits: Modvion

The 30-meter tower was built together with Moelven in the glulam factory in Töreboda. The tower’s height is relatively small 30 meters; however, the Modvion company, which was responsible for its delivery, informs that the first wooden towers are to be built on a commercial scale in two years.

Modvion already has a preliminary contract with one of Sweden’s wind farm developers to provide Varberg Energi with a 110-meter high wind tower, and for another developer, Rabbalshede Kraft is to supply ten towers, at least 150 meters high.

The Swedish Wind Power Technology Centre at Chalmers is the client for the wind turbine with a 30-meter wooden tower on Björkö. “Wind power is expected to be the EU’s largest power source as early as 2027. With wind towers in wood, we get even more climate-smarter renewable electricity to face the climate crisis,” says Ola Carlson, director of the Swedish Wind Power Technology Centre.

After the experience with wooden wind turbines, it will be exciting to see whether the sensible development in Sweden will prevail.