Nordex Group is currently installing the first N163/5.X turbines at the Karahka wind farm in the Northern Ostrobothnia region of Finland, commissioned by a consortium consisting of Finnish energy supplier Helen Ltd and the Ålandsbanken Wind Power Fund. The unique feature of this wind farm is that it employs Nordex’s first in-house developed hybrid concrete and steel tower with a hub height of 168 meters.
The tower has been developed based on the extensive experience acquired by the Group in the design and production of concrete towers in Brazil, South Africa and Mexico. More than 2,500 units are already in successful operation.
Since summer 2023, Lujabetoni Oy has been manufacturing the concrete elements of the wind turbine towers at the Karahka wind farm in Finland locally since summer 2023. A hybrid tower consists of convex concrete segments, up to 20 meters long, which are assembled and braced on site before the steel sections, nacelle and rotor are installed on top.
This hybrid tower, with a hub height of 168 meters, is the tallest that the Nordex Group has installed to date.
Leveraging its proven hybrid tower technology, Nordex Group will also be able to achieve higher shaft heights in the coming years, further increasing clean wind energy production. In 2024, the first installation of a 179-meter hybrid tower, based on the same technology, is planned in Germany.
The Karahka wind farm was developed by the Finnish subsidiary of the Dresden-based German group VSB, which specializes in the development and operations management of photovoltaic and wind energy projects. The wind farm is located north of the town of Oulainen, about 40 kilometers east of the Gulf of Bothnia.
To cope with the harsh winter weather conditions on site, the Nordex Group wind turbines will be supplied in the cold climate version and will be equipped with its advanced anti-icing system to prevent ice formation on the rotor blades.
Karahka’s order was placed in 2022 and comprises 25 N163/5.X wind turbines with a total capacity of 147.5 MW.
Helen Ltd helps make everyday life a little easier for over 550,000 customers in Finland. In addition to heat, cooling and electricity, we offer solutions for regional and renewable energy, smart buildings and electric transportation. We are developing a smarter, carbon-neutral energy system that allows everyone to produce, use and save energy while respecting the environment. Our goal is to achieve 100% carbon neutrality in our energy production by 2030. Let us join forces and realize the opportunities of a new energy era. More information: helen.fi
Bank of Åland Plc’s fund management company, Ålandsbanken Funds Ltd, manages the Bank’s investment funds. The funds are marketed in Finland and Sweden. Ålandsbanken Wind Power Fund is the first open-ended fund offered to a broad target group investing in wind energy. Fund shares can be subscribed or redeemed twice a year. Ålandsbanken Fondbolag was founded in 1998 and is wholly owned by Bank of Åland. In addition to ordinary investment funds (UCITS), the company has the right to manage alternative investment funds (AIFs).
VSB, headquartered in Dresden, Germany, is one of Europe’s leading vertically integrated developers in the field of renewable energy. Its main activity is the development of wind farm and onshore photovoltaic projects, their operational management and the exploitation of its own assets as a growing independent energy producer. VSB operates in nine European countries and has a portfolio of more than 15 GW. Since 1996, VSB has commissioned more than 700 wind and photovoltaic power plants with a combined installed capacity of approximately 1.3 GW. VSB also provides services for around 3.2 GW of installed plants. With its subsidiary companies, the group employs more than 500 people.
The Group has installed more than 39 GW of wind energy capacity in more than 40 markets and in 2021 generated revenues of €5.4 billion. The company currently has a staff of approx. 8,600. Joint manufacturing capacity includes factories in Germany, Spain, Brazil, the United States, India and Mexico. The product portfolio focuses on onshore turbines from class 4 to 6.X MW, which are tailored to the market requirements of countries with limited space and regions with limited grid capacity.
