voestalpine Wire Austria strengthens wind energy and supplies high-quality prestressing steel wire for the prestressing of concrete segments, especially for wind towers erected using hybrid construction methods. The outstanding properties of the prestressing steel wire not only guarantee a robust construction, but also offer decisive customer benefits.
Wind turbines currently contribute 7% to the global electricity supply. This share is set to rise to over 13% by 2030 and even to 22% by 2050, primarily through offshore plants, but also through measures to increase output on land. (Source: IEA World Energy Outlook 2022)
There are several construction methods for wind towers, which vary depending on the location, wind conditions and technological development. The three main types are
The choice of construction method depends on various factors, including geographical location, environmental conditions, economic considerations and technological advances.
voestalpine Wire Austria supplies high-quality prestressing steel wire for prestressing concrete segments, particularly for wind towers which are erected using hybrid construction methods. This forward-looking cooperation is helping to increase the efficiency of wind turbines and further promote environmentally friendly energy generation.
Hybrid towers represent a significant advance in the construction of wind turbines. These towers combine different construction materials, such as steel and concrete. By combining steel and concrete, the advantages of both materials ensure improved load distribution. This innovative approach not only optimizes the stability of the towers, but also enables a resource-saving construction. The lower sections are made of concrete, while the upper sections use steel elements. The hybrid construction method is particularly suitable for higher towers and challenging locations with strong winds.
And here the rule is - the higher the better! Because: every additional meter of height provides 1% more electricity yield. In line with this motto, more powerful wind turbines are replacing older models on land, e.g. 3 MW wind turbines with improved generators and larger rotor blades instead of 1.3 MW turbines. At hub heights of up to 150 m, more favorable wind conditions ensure constant power generation.
To erect these giant wind turbines, high-quality prestressing steel wire is increasingly used in the concrete part of hybrid wind towers to effectively prestress the concrete segments.
For technological and logistical reasons, the towers are often erected using a hybrid construction method. The tubular steel tower is placed on the prestressed concrete tower below. We supply approx. 50 tons of high-strength prestressing steel wire per tower for prestressing the concrete segments.
The outstanding properties of voestalpine Wire Austria's prestressing steel wire for wind turbines not only guarantee a robust design, but also offer decisive customer benefits.
The high tensile strength and outstanding quality of the wire help to minimize the maintenance requirements of wind turbines and at the same time extend their service life.
Find out more about our prestressing steel wire, which is helping to shape the future of wind energy in a sustainable way - together for a green energy supply:
