Why do wind turbine towers come in different shapes and materials?
First, let’s clarify some basics. Taller wind turbines capture stronger, steadier winds, increasing energy output. But height alone isn’t enough — tower design has evolved significantly over the past decades to optimise efficiency, stability, and cost.
Early wind turbines stood on steel lattice towers; a solution adapted from power transmission. While lightweight and easy to assemble, they had high wind resistance and structural limitations. By the late 1980s, as turbines grew larger, tubular steel towers became the standard. Their conical shape improved aerodynamics and provided greater structural efficiency, allowing for taller hub heights and better stability. By the early 1990s, they had largely replaced lattice towers in most markets.
Yet, as turbines grew taller, steel alone became impractical. In the 1990s, concrete towers gained traction, enabling greater height and stability while reducing vibrations. But as turbines continued to scale, standalone concrete towers faced transport and construction challenges. The industry responded with hybrid towers, combining a concrete base with a steel upper section to reach hub heights of over 150 metres, improving logistics and cost efficiency.
Today, innovation in tower design focuses less on going ever higher — and more on reducing the carbon footprint of the materials we use. Green steel and engineered wood are two of the approaches being explored. It remains to be seen which technologies will lead the way.
As wind energy continues to evolve, innovation and sustainability go hand in hand, shaping the way we design, build, and operate the turbines of the future. At RWE, we remain at the forefront of setting new standards and driving onshore wind forward.
What do you think will define the next generation of wind turbine towers?
