Wooden Wind Turbine Towers: The Low-Carbon Revolution
Exploring how engineered wood is redefining wind power with reduced emissions, better logistics, and improved sustainability.
As the world seeks innovative ways to combat climate change, wind energy stands out as a core technology for a cleaner energy future. However, while wind turbines are celebrated for their emission-free electricity, conventional designs—especially their towering steel structures—carry a sizeable environmental cost. Recently, innovative companies like Modvion have begun building wind turbine towers from laminated wood, showcasing a paradigm shift in renewable energy infrastructure that delivers unprecedented sustainability, efficiency, and scalability.
The Case for Wooden Wind Turbine Towers
Steel has long been the primary material for wind turbine towers, but the environmental toll of steel production, logistical challenges, and cost pressures have spurred research into viable, sustainable alternatives. Wooden towers, constructed from engineered products such as Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) and gluelam timber, are emerging as strong contenders that meet the demands of modern renewable power generation.
- Significantly reduced carbon footprint: Wooden towers store more CO2 than is emitted during production.
- Superior modularity for transportation: Components are lightweight and compact for easier logistics.
- Strength-to-weight and cost advantages: LVL timber matches or exceeds steel on key performance metrics.
- Full recyclability: Materials can be repurposed at end of life, unlike composite steel blades often sent to landfill.
Conventional Wind Turbine Towers: Strengths and Shortcomings
Traditionally, wind turbine towers are constructed from steel cylinders, often manufactured far from installation sites. While steel is strong, it presents several concerns for the rapidly growing wind power industry:
- High embodied energy in steel production leads to significant greenhouse gas emissions.
- Heavy and bulky segments complicate transportation, especially for taller turbines exceeding 120 meters.
- Difficult recyclability—especially for composite blades and mixed-material components.
- Vulnerability to marine environments—saltwater corrosion shortens tower lifespan offshore.
Given these challenges, the sector has actively explored alternatives that could marry robust structural performance with genuine sustainability.
Innovation: The Wooden Wind Turbine Tower
Modvion, a Swedish engineered-wood specialist, leads the charge in developing modular wooden wind turbine towers. Using LVL and gluelam timber, their towers are redefining what’s possible in wind infrastructure. Here’s what sets Modvion’s design apart:
- Modular construction simplifies transport: Segments are easier to maneuver than full steel cylinders.
- Lighter structure: Wood offers greater strength per mass unit—up to 55% more than steel—allowing for lighter towers without sacrificing load-bearing capacity.
- Scalable heights: Modular design allows construction of towers over 120 meters, taking advantage of higher-altitude winds and increasing turbine output.
Logistical Advantages
Shipping and assembling massive steel towers is one of the industry’s biggest pain points. By contrast, modular wooden segments (often just a few meters long) can be trucked or shipped more efficiently, then assembled on-site with specialized connectors—reducing both costs and emissions associated with transportation.
What others are reading
Environmental Impact: Carbon-Negative Manufacturing
A core benefit of wooden towers is their dramatic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions—in fact, they can be carbon-negative. The production of steel involves high-temperature processes powered by fossil fuels, but wood products store carbon absorbed during tree growth. This unique property enables wooden towers to act as a carbon sink.
| Parameter | Steel Tower | Wooden Tower |
|---|---|---|
| 110 m tower CO2 Emissions | 1,250 tonnes | 125 tonnes |
| Carbon Storage | None | 240–950 tonnes per tower |
| Emissions Reduction | — | Up to 90% |
By switching from steel to timber, the carbon footprint of turbine towers drops by at least 25% according to lifecycle analyses. Over a single tower’s 20- to 30-year working life, this adds up to savings of thousands of tonnes of CO2.
Material Properties and Durability
Wooden towers are built from engineered spruce layers bonded together, forming robust, weather-resistant sections. Each completed tower consists of multiple layers—up to 144 in current Modvion prototypes—yielding superior mechanical strength. Notably, wood is also less susceptible to salt corrosion than steel, making these towers especially attractive for coastal and maritime climates.
- Withstand harsh weather: Timber performs well in cold, damp, and saline environments.
- Long operational life: Expected to function up to 30 years—longer than many conventional steel towers.
Technical Performance and Scalability
Wooden wind turbine towers match or exceed steel equivalents in strength and flexibility. Their hollow construction means scaling to taller heights is easier, since adding wall thickness increases strength without a major weight penalty. This adaptability is crucial as the industry shifts toward taller turbines to harness stronger, steadier winds higher above the ground.
- 30% lighter than steel alternatives
- Structural integrity on par with traditional towers
- Modular assembly supports building at various heights
As wind power technology continues to scale, wooden towers offer a clear path to higher, more productive turbines without prohibitive transport or material costs.
Recyclability and End-of-Life Benefits
Unlike composite blades made from glass or carbon fiber, which create landfill burdens, wooden tower components are fully recyclable. At the end of the tower’s service, materials can be reused in new construction or returned to industrial cycles, drastically reducing lifetime environmental impacts and supporting circular economy principles.
Challenges and Ongoing Research
Transitioning to wooden wind turbine towers is technologically promising—but not without challenges. Innovations in wood construction require rigorous mechanical testing to validate strength and performance across a variety of conditions, from severe weather to unique load-bearing stresses unfamiliar to traditional wood applications.
Researchers at Chalmers University and other institutions are studying:
- Optimal bonding techniques and adhesives for modular assembly
- Protection against continuous moisture and biological threats (fungi, insects)
- Long-term fatigue and dynamic load performance
Initial demonstrations—such as the Swedish Modvion prototypes powering hundreds of homes—showcase the technology’s maturity and readiness for broader deployment. Yet, large-scale adoption will depend on ongoing research, cost efficiencies, and regulatory acceptance.
Socio-Economic and Regional Benefits
The adoption of engineered wood towers brings tangible benefits to local economies, since timber can often be sourced regionally. Harvesting, processing, and assembly support jobs not just in renewables but across forestry, lumber production, and skilled carpentry. Additional advantages for communities and the environment include:
- Incentivizing sustainable forestry and land management
- Reducing dependence on imported steel
- Enabling decentralized and rural manufacturing hubs
Future Outlook for Wooden Wind Turbine Towers
While still in the early stages, wooden towers represent a significant advancement in the quest for low-carbon energy. As research confirms their durability, safety, and economic feasibility, expect to see more of these innovative structures on wind farms across Europe, North America, and beyond.
| Feature | Steel Tower | Wooden Tower |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Heavy | 30% lighter |
| Transport Logistics | Challenging for tall towers | Modular, easy to ship |
| CO2 Emissions (Production) | High | Low/Carbon negative |
| End-of-Life Path | Hard to recycle | Fully recyclable |
| Corrosion Resistance | Suffers in salt air | Superior in maritime climates |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How long can a wooden wind turbine tower last?
A: Modern wooden wind turbine towers are designed to last up to 30 years, sometimes exceeding the operational lifespan of steel towers.
Q: Are wooden towers as strong as steel towers?
A: Yes. Engineered LVL and gluelam timbers deliver equivalent or greater strength compared to steel on a per-mass or cost basis.
Q: What is the environmental advantage of using wood for wind towers?
A: Wood acts as a carbon sink, stores more CO2 than is released in production, offers a lighter footprint, and can be fully recycled at end of life.
Q: How are wooden wind turbine towers transported?
A: Wooden towers are constructed from modular segments, allowing for more efficient transportation, even to remote or challenging installation sites.
Q: Can wooden wind turbine towers be used in salty or maritime environments?
A: Yes. Unlike steel, engineered timber is not negatively affected by salty air, making these towers ideal for coastal and offshore wind farms.
Conclusion
Wooden wind turbine towers stand at the crossroads of renewable energy and sustainable materials science, offering clear solutions to reduce emissions, improve logistics, and deliver genuinely renewable infrastructure. As the technology matures, expect these elegant wooden structures to become a defining feature of the wind energy landscape for a lower-carbon, circular future.
References
- https://www.upmtimber.com/whats-new/2020/back-to-the-future-for-wind-turbines/
- https://www.nesfircroft.com/resources/blog/exploring-the-world-s-tallest-wooden-wind-turbine-project/
- https://eepower.com/news/wooden-wind-turbines-a-more-sustainable-alternative-to-steel/
- https://pefc.org/news/modvion-wind-turbine-sustainable-wind-energy-thanks-to-wood
- https://www.einsteintelescope-emr.eu/en/2025/04/08/wooden-wind-turbines-to-reduce-vibrations/
Similar Articles
Read full bio of medha deb
