Life-Cycle Analysis of Four Taller Wind Turbine Tower Options
Taller wind turbines are becoming desirable in the growing wind energy industry. This article takes a deeper look at four options for taller towers. Steel towers, concrete towers, hybrid towers and the recently developed ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) tower are all viable options for hosting 100-metre (328-ft) hub height turbines. However, the environmental impact of each of these towers varies significantly. In this article, a life-cycle analysis (LCA) is used to compare these tower options over both short-term and long-term periods to reveal the most sustainable tower option for these taller turbines.By Sarah Gustitus, environmental engineering student, University of Florida, USA