Nordex Group has successfully tested a 3 megawatt (MW) wind turbine on a 134 meter tubular steel tower at a facility operatedImage credit: Nordex Group by Windtest Grevenbroich in Germany for developer GP Joule. This is the same site where the company installed and commissioned the world's first multi-megawatt machine, the N80/2500, in the year 2000.

The company had previously installed turbines with hub heights over 120 meters on hybrid concrete and tubular steel towers in Europe. This was because the diameter of a conventional lower tubular steel segment for high hub heights would be more than 4.30 meters, which would make it impossible to transport them under bridges. The diameter of the lower segment of the new tower is exactly 4.30 meters, eliminating transportation issues.

The results of the latest tests confirm that the tubular steel tower is a suitable alternative to hybrid towers. The new tower technology will initially be available for international markets for the recently launched N131/3600 and N131/3900 wind turbine generators.