Record-breaking Wind Turbine in Lusatia—Field Test Still to Come

After challenging weather conditions and several delays, the world’s tallest wind turbine now stands in southern Brandenburg. The tower in Schipkau, in the Lusatia region, measures 365 meters. The region is better known as a traditional lignite-mining area, but in light of the agreed-upon coal phase-out, it is now focusing on expanding renewable energy. 

So far, the colossal wind turbine—which reached its record height on Monday (the 28th)—is a pilot plant developed by the Dresden-based company Gicon. In the coming years, it remains to be seen whether the XXL prototype—designed to achieve higher electricity yields—will attract interested parties and lead to the retrofitting of additional wind farms.

Today, Thursday, Gicon plans to provide information in Schipkau about the ambitious pilot project, which engineers describe as a pioneering achievement. An important milestone also lies ahead: The official commissioning of the high-altitude wind tower is planned for November, as the company announced. 

What makes this wind turbine special?

The wind turbine, which was erected in an existing wind farm, is considered a technical innovation. It consists of a type of lattice tower and a steel structure that is more reminiscent of power poles. “With over 2,000 metric tons of steel used in its construction and 22,000 individual parts, the lattice tower is an engineering masterpiece,” Gicon enthuses. 

The turbine was initially assembled at an easily accessible height. It then had to be raised to its final position along with the inner tower using a telescoping mechanism. The rotor blades were then added. According to Gicon, the turbine’s hub height is 300 meters, bringing its total height to 365 meters. By way of comparison: At 368 meters, the Berlin TV Tower is considered Germany’s tallest structure.

Is this actually the world’s tallest wind turbine?

According to current estimates by the German Wind Energy Association, it is the world’s largest wind turbine. Conventional wind turbines have a hub height of well under 200 meters.

However, according to the Wind Energy Association, particularly tall wind turbines are already in operation, especially in southern Germany, where there is less wind than in the north, for example. Max Bögl recently launched a 199-meter-high hybrid tower as a mass-produced product. With the rotor blades included, the turbines stand a total of 280 meters tall, according to the association.

Who is involved in the pilot project? 

The Gicon Group, headquartered in Dresden, is building the wind tower on behalf of the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovations (SPRIND), founded in 2019. The agency is tasked with helping groundbreaking ideas achieve a breakthrough and can provide government funding for them. “SPRIND aims to bridge the gap between the spirit of research and entrepreneurship,” writes the federal agency in Leipzig. However, Gicon does not specify the investment costs for the high-altitude wind tower.

Why is a high-altitude wind tower being built? 

At higher altitudes, wind conditions are generally stronger and more consistent. According to Gicon, this allows the giant wind tower to generate roughly twice the energy output of a conventional wind turbine with the same rotor diameter. 

In addition, high-altitude wind towers could be erected within existing wind farms in the future, thereby supplying additional energy without requiring new land outside these farms.

There is talk of a more consistent power feed-in. This should also make it easier to generate renewable energy at locations with low wind speeds.

The high-altitude wind tower is expected to eventually be capable of producing electricity for up to 7,500 households. According to the company, the pilot plant will be commissioned with a rated output of 3.8 megawatts. Future turbines are expected to reach more than 7 megawatts, the company says.

A milestone for the future of wind farms?

The Wind Energy Association initially describes the project in southern Brandenburg primarily as a feasibility demonstration: The lattice tower is not a mass-produced product. “It will therefore be crucial to see what operational data the plant delivers and whether it actually achieves the yields forecast in the wind studies,” the association said. 

What are the company’s plans for the future?

Gicon has announced plans to begin mass production in the early 2030s. In Germany alone, there is currently the potential to retrofit up to 4,000 high-altitude wind towers in existing wind farms as a so-called “second story,” according to the developer.

A marketing concept is being developed in collaboration with the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovations. Discussions are underway with several potential partners from the wind energy industry. However, it remains to be seen whether permits for extremely tall wind towers will be more difficult to obtain in practice.