UPDATE - Nabrawind installs 160m prototype of self-erecting wind tower

Image by Nabrawind.

Spanish firm Nabrawind Technologies SL today announced the successful installation of a 160-metre-tall steel wind turbine tower in Northern Spain, which it says is the tallest of its kind globally.

The company has developed a self-erecting system with hydraulic jacks to make it possible to install the Nabralift tower, nacelle and rotor without using large-size cranes, no matter what hub height has to be reached. Nabrawind said that by eliminating the need for specialist transportation and assembly equipment, it cuts the cost of installation by 15% to 20% when compared to conventional approaches like tubular steel or hybrid tower.

"We have confirmed interest from most of the big players in the market, since all companies have to deal with the challenges of the high towers. Shortly, we expect to be able to reveal the first names once the contracts are signed," Ion Arocena, Nabralift Programme Manager, tells Renewables Now

The 160-m full-scale prototype of the self-erecting tower in Eslava took less than two weeks to install. It will now have to demonstrate 25 years of operating life through fatigue load tests.

"The validation of our technology by means of this prototype marks an important milestone in our commercialisation," said Arocena. Asked which markets does Nabrawind target with the tower in the next few years, he said that as 3-MW turbines are becoming more and more popular all over the world, the company sees a global demand for these products.

Nabrawind plans to install up to seven towers in 2019 of between 135 m and 200 m in height. It is already working on the first contracts for towers to be manufactured this year, Arocena said. In addition to installations in Europe, the company's plan is to also erect towers in America.

"All of our towers will be manufactured in our Spanish industrial hub, and will be easily transported to the final country due to the logistic-friendly design," the Nabralift Programme Manager added.

How would you install the highest steel tower in the world with no large cranes? This is how we did it! 💪🏼
Meet us this week in #WindEurope (Hall 6 Booth 260) to know more!#Nabralift pic.twitter.com/kCe8ME7l8s
— NABRAWIND TECHNOLOGIES (@nabrawind) September 24, 2018

The Spanish company is backed by European investor InnoEnergy, which is pouring EUR 3 million (USD 3.5m) in the firm.

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