Swedish renewable energy companies are joining forces to develop a more sustainable solution for wind farms. Modvion and RWE Renewables Sweden AB have announced a partnership to supply wooden towers to RWE's future onshore wind farms.
The initiative aims to help RWE increase its production capacity while reducing its carbon footprint, by verifying the wooden tower technology and preparing for the use of wooden towers in future wind farms.
People visit a wooden wind turbine stand at the Survival Expo on March 23, 2018 in Paris. Survivalists also known as "Preppers" believe it's important to be prepared for a major disasters, whether environmental, financial, nuclear, or political.
Wooden Towers
The wooden towers, which are built in modules, offer several benefits compared to traditional steel and concrete towers. Laminated wood is stronger than steel proportionate to its weight, which means lighter towers and less need for expensive reinforcements.
The modular design allows for easy transportation, without the need for expensive special transports, road closures and lengthy permit procedures. Moreover, growing trees bind carbon dioxide, which is stored in the wood products that act as a carbon sink.
Building using wood enables radical emission reductions compared to conventional materials such as steel and concrete.
Maria-Lina Hedlund, CFO and acting CEO at Modvion, said "Our technology can help the wind industry dramatically reduce emissions, while facilitating taller towers to reach stronger winds. It's great to see leading companies like RWE looking to support innovation that enables renewable energy from renewable materials."
A sifo poll conducted by Modvion found that nearly four out of ten Swedes have a more favorable opinion of wind power if the towers are made of wood.
Given that the wind industry requires larger turbines, timber tower technology has the potential to become a significant complementary material in tower construction.
Wood is a renewable resource that allows for dramatic reductions in emissions. When compared to a normal steel tower of the same height and load, adopting a timber tower reduces emissions by 90%, according to a life cycle analysis from the Swedish research institute RISE.
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Coming Soon in 2023
The first commercial wind turbine from Modvion will be installed in 2023. The 2-megawatt wind turbine will be put atop the wooden tower, which will be 150 meters tall when the blades are added.
Modvion also intends to build a 6-megawatt facility that will be one of the biggest turbines ever operated on land.
"We see that modular towers in laminated wood have significant market potential and can contribute to lowering the cost of new renewable electricity production by replacing steel and concrete with environmentally friendly and climate-smart wood. RWE will be assessing Modvion's wooden tower for potential use in future wind farms," said Lars Borisson, Head of Onshore Origination & Development Nordics at RWE Renewables.
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