German engineering firm GICON has completed the installation of a 365-meter-tall wind turbine in Schipkau, Brandenburg. The structure features a hub height of 300 meters, making it the tallest wind energy facility globally and the second-tallest structure in Germany. The pilot project, commissioned by the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND), utilizes a steel truss support and a telescopic inner tower design.
The construction process employs a specialized strand jacking system to lift the inner tower, reducing reliance on heavy cranes for high-altitude assembly. While the current prototype has a rated capacity of 3.8 megawatts, GICON aims for future models to exceed 7 megawatts. The company suggests that this telescopic technology could allow existing wind farms to be retrofitted with taller turbines, potentially adding up to 4,000 units across Germany.
The primary objective of the increased hub height is to harness more stable, high-altitude wind currents. GICON estimates that this design could double energy output compared to conventional turbines with similar rotor diameters. However, the project is currently in the final stages of electrical wiring and is scheduled for official activation in November. Long-term performance, maintenance costs, and durability remain to be verified through testing.
The tower reached its full height on September 29. Following the pilot phase, GICON intends to develop wind farms comprising three to five of these ultra-high turbines in collaboration with SPRIND. While the company is working toward commercialization and mass production, no definitive timeline for a market-ready model has been established yet.
