Towers

Overview

Onshore towers have grown from a maximum of approximately 50m, 20 years ago to nearly 180m today.

Tower sections are bolted together, with the bottom section bolted to the foundation.

Regular maintenance is critical (e.g. bolt tightening).

The tower is designed to take into account:

Tower collapse is a catastrophic and rare event, typically caused by:

Wind loads exceeding the tower’s design limit, resulting in buckling or bolts ‘unzipping’
Blades failing and impacting the tower causing it to buckle
Manufacturing defects (e.g. poor welding) or installation error (inadequate tightening of foundation bolts or tower section bolts)