Photo: GICON
The world’s tallest wind turbine has reached its full height in Germany, and its developer says the extra altitude could roughly double its electricity output.
GICON‘s pilot turbine in Schipkau, eastern Germany, stands 365 meters (1,197 feet) tall, including its blades. That makes it Germany’s second-tallest structure, behind Berlin’s TV tower. Its rotor hub sits 300 meters (984 feet) above the ground.
Winds at higher altitudes are stronger and more consistent, giving the turbine more opportunities to generate electricity. GICON says its design could produce approximately twice as much energy as a conventional turbine with the same rotor diameter.
The turbine has a rated capacity of 3.8 megawatts (MW), while future versions are planned to exceed 7 MW. That projected doubling refers to electricity generated over time, rather than a doubling of the turbine’s rated power.
GICON built the project for Germany’s Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation, or SPRIND. Official commissioning is planned for November, with final work still to be completed.
Getting the turbine that high required a different approach to construction. Instead of relying on a crane capable of reaching the full height, GICON used a telescoping tower. A specialized lifting system raised the inner tower through the surrounding lattice structure, then secured it in its extended position.
“365 meters – this is an overwhelming moment for our entire team,” said GICON founder and CEO Jochen Großmann. “What was long a challenging idea and then an equally challenging construction project now stands as a globally unique facility in Schipkau.”
The company also wants to use that extra height to get more electricity out of existing wind farms.
GICON and SPRIND envision adding these taller turbines as a “second tier,” with their rotors operating above those of conventional turbines. Their current assessment suggests Germany’s existing wind farms could potentially accommodate up to 4,000 high-altitude turbines, adding generation without developing new wind farm areas.
That’s an estimate of what might be possible, rather than an announced construction pipeline. The Schipkau turbine is still a pilot, and its projected energy yield has yet to be demonstrated in operation.
GICON and SPRIND are now preparing to scale up the design and discussing commercialization with interested wind energy companies. Their goal is to begin series production as quickly as possible. First comes commissioning, and then they’ll see how much electricity the world’s tallest wind turbine actually delivers.
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