Wind power is vital to help decarbonize the energy industry. However, while the electricity it generates has a small carbon footprint, the towers of conventional wind turbines are predominately made using carbon-intensive materials like steel. Swedish company Modvion believes it has found a greener alternative — building turbine towers from wood.
Modvion towers are coated with a thick, waterproof paint, and like steel towers, they have a lifetime of 25 to 30 years, according to the company.
Currently, Modvion is in the design phase for its first six-megawatt turbine, which will be installed next year. By 2027, it aims to start commercial production of the turbine in a new factory.
While the company is only focusing on the tower component, Lundman says turbine blades — which are traditionally manufactured from fiberglass bound together with epoxy resin, an incredibly strong material that is difficult and expensive to recycle — could also be made with wood.
Modvion towers are coated with a thick, waterproof paint, and like steel towers, they have a lifetime of 25 to 30 years, according to the company.
Currently, Modvion is in the design phase for its first six-megawatt turbine, which will be installed next year. By 2027, it aims to start commercial production of the turbine in a new factory.
While the company is only focusing on the tower component, Lundman says turbine blades — which are traditionally manufactured from fiberglass bound together with epoxy resin, an incredibly strong material that is difficult and expensive to recycle — could also be made with wood.
