New wind power technology could bring turbines to hard-to-reach locations, according to engineers from General Electric. The company has developed a new type of wind tower, dubbed the “Space Frame Tower,” consisting of metal latticework wrapped in weather-resistant fiberglass.
Unlike conventional steel tube wind towers, the latticework can be bolted together on-site, which means the tower’s framework can be transported using standard shipping containers and trucks, allowing taller wind towers to be installed in locations previously inaccessible to the longer trucks needed to transport conventional towers.
The Space Frame Tower also has a five-leg base that’s wider than conventional towers, increasing stability and ultimately allowing it to reach heights up to 450 feet — an advantage at sites where higher turbines can reach stronger winds. A 318-foot tall prototype is up and running in Tehachapi, California, with a 2.75 megawatt turbine nearly 400 feet wide.
Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.
