First timber turbine tower completed
11 February 2013The world’s first wooden wind turbine tower has been inaugurated in Hannover, Germany.
German federal environment minister Peter Altmaier and Lower Saxony governor David McAllister officialy opened the 100m-high timber tower, made from cross-laminated timber (CLT).
The 1.5MW turbine will provide enough electricity for 1,000 homes.
System supplier TimberTower said its product scored highly in wind turbine applications in terms of easier logisitcs, elimination of rising steel prices, reduced maintenance in corrosive salt air off-shore applications and an improved environmental profile.
The company says its 100m tower saves 300 tonnes of sheet steel and seals in about 400 tonnes of CO2, while transport abroad in 40ft containers represent a "logistsics revolution" over conventional steel towers.
