Towers, Steel Processing and Foundations

The high tower of the wind turbine is necessary in order for the blades of the turbine to take advantage of the best winds and thereby increase the efficiency of the electricity production.

The size of the towers makes production a complicated process. Specialised machinery is required to produce the large steel sections and a high quality surface treatment is essential to ensure a long lifetime of the wind turbine. The towers are typically made of three or four tubular steel sections coated with paint and sealants and joined by bolts.

Due to the large size of wind turbines, a good and strong foundation that is able to resist strong winds and a harsh environment is required both onshore and especially offshore.

Because of Denmark’s long experience within the wind industry, a number of Danish researchers and companies have developed key competences in how to make high quality towers. Specialised machines have been developed to meet the specific needs for steel processing of huge elements. Extensive know-how within producing foundations in the most efficient way has been built up through close collaboration between the private and public sector in Denmark.