Germany: Global record for Nordex - Tallest turbine ever errected

Nordex has installed the world’s tallest wind turbine to date in Hausbay in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. With a hub height of 164 metres and a rotor length of 65.5 metres, the N131/3300 wind power system reaches a total height of just under 230 metres.

Located roughly 100 kilometres west of Frankfurt/Main, the “Hausbay-Bickenbach” wind park has been developed by Kreuzberger & Spengler Regenerative Energie from Dunningen-Seedorf.

The 164-metre hybrid tower is made of a 100-metre concrete tower and two tubular steel tower segments. Over the last few years, this design has been used for over 500 Nordex N117 and N131 wind power systems with a total of height of up to 200 metres. Consequently, this enhanced version incorporates considerable practical experience.

With a total height of just under 230 metres and a lower blade tip height of 100 metres, the N131/3300 will be able to make use of air layers offering a greater yield, thus increasing annual output. At the same time, it is exposed to less turbulence in hilly and forest-rich terrain. Certified in accordance with Dibt (German Institute for Building Technology) guideline 2012 for wind zone S, the turbine is particularly designed for low-wind regions with wind speeds of an annual average of up to 7.5 m/s.

Type testing for the N131/3300 with a hub height of 164 metres was completed in January of this year. Noise emission and measurement reports for the 3 MW and the 3.3 MM version of the N131 are also available.

The “Hasbay-Bickenbach” project uses a 100-metre concrete tower supplied by long-standing Nordex partner Max Bögl for the first time. As a leading producer of prefabricated parts, the group has been building combined prestressed/steel hybrid towers since 2010. Production of the 3.80-metre tall elements with a uniform wall thickness of 30 centimetres at the company’s own facilities ensures consistently high quality and precision of the components, enabling the hybrid tower to be assembled within two weeks.