Nordex installs 238.5-metre high N149-4.5MW

Nordex and developer VSB Neue Energien Deutschland have commissioned a N149-4.5MW turbine at a site in Thuringia, Germany, with a total height of 238.5-metres, making it one of the tallest worldwide.

by David Weston 4 September 2019

Nordex's 238.5-metre turbine in Thuringia features a 164-meter hybrid tower with an octagonal base

Due to its height, the turbine can use higher-yielding air layers and exploit the full potential of the medium wind location.

The turbine has a maximum nominal output of 4.5MW operating even at wind speeds of 11.5m/s.

"Our project… proves that the development towards larger hub heights and rotor diameters makes it possible to operate wind turbines efficiently even at locations far from the coast, in central and southern Germany," said Uwe Kaltenborn, managing director of VSB.

"This means that the conditions are in place for these regions to make an even stronger contribution to the energy transition," Kaltenborn added.

The turbine is installed on a 164-metre hybrid tower with an octagonal base.

Currently, the tallest turbine installed is also located in Germany. The 246.5-metre GE 3.4MW turbine installed near Stuttgart has a 178-metre hub height. The tower features a 40-metre pumped-hydro resevoir at the base.

Nordex installed a 230-metre high turbine, also featuring the 164-metre hybrid tower, in Germany in 2016. The 3.3MW turbine had a 131-metre rotor diameter. It produced 9GWh in its first year of operation.