Innovative wood towers

RISE has completed several projects together with the Swedish company Modvion which develops wind turbine towers made of Swedish wood. The aim is to facilitate transports, lower the costs and increase the climate benefit.

The towers are produced in modules from laminated wood. When mounted at site, the towers are in the range of 100 to 150 metres high.

The reason for producing wind turbine towers in wood is the modular concept and the lower weight which enables a simpler transportation on public roads and possibility to build taller towers. This in turn enables cost reductions but also emission reductions since the wooden structures replace emission-intensive materials such as steel and concrete. In addition, carbon dioxide is stored in the wooden material.

The strength properties and construction elements of wood are verified by RISE through testing and the results are used for validating and documenting the theoretical calculations performed and are the base for the construction work. Modvion uses perforated steel plates which are connected to the wooden structure by special glue for the purpose. Extra attention is given to the integrity of the structure with regards to fatigue. RISE perform experimental tests which are compared with the existing standards for these types of constructions.

Modvion has during the Summer 2020 erected a first pilot project, with Chalmers’ research turbine, on Björkö outside Gothenburg. The tower is 30 metres high and is built together with Moelven at the glue factory in Töreboda.

The project is coordinated through SWPTC with financial support from Energimyndigheten.