WiredInUSA-December2015

towers at future wind farms. It could open up new low-to-medium wind resource areas in Iowa for futurewind development. “The process of building a concrete tower is quite different from the process we use to construct turbines with steel towers,” Mr Gehringer said. “Instead of building the tower sections ina factory and transporting them to the site to be fitted together, crews pour the concrete in segments and manufacture the tower on site.” The 2.3MW concrete tower turbine at the Adams wind farm will measure 377 feet from ground to hub, compared to 263 feet for most of the turbines in use at other MidAmerican Energy wind farms. With blades extended, the turbine will reach a height of 554 feet, making it about as tall as the Washington Monument. Double first

MidAmerican Energy Company’s new wind farm in Adams County, Iowa, will include the company’s first concrete wind turbine tower. Once installed, the wind turbine itself will represent another first as the tallest land-based turbine built in the country to date, designed to capture more wind power at higher altitudes. “Advancements in turbine design and construction techniques are opening up new opportunities for development of renewable resources,” said company VP for renewable energy, Mike Gehringer. MidAmerican Energy has contracted Siemens for the supply and construction of its new concrete tower design. Mr Gehringer said both companies view this tower as a prototype that could serve as the model for other concrete turbine

wiredInUSA - December 2015

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