22 Jun 2026
,Germany
Next-generation wind turbines could soon stand on towers made of wood. What long seemed like a technical curiosity is now being put into practice: wood-hybrid towers are set to at least partially replace concrete as the dominant tower material while offering both ecological and economic advantages.
The Austrian company Hasslacher Green Tower GmbH has developed a tower concept focused on resource-efficient construction and rapid assembly. The design is based on a truss structure made of spruce glued-laminated timber beams that provide stability on the inside. The outer layer consists of pine heartwood, which is considered particularly weather-resistant and gives the tower its characteristic appearance.
A key advantage of the concept lies in the high degree of prefabrication of the components. Thanks to industrially prefabricated elements, a complete wind turbine tower can be erected in about ten days – a significant time saving compared to conventional concrete structures. Tower cranes facilitate assembly at great heights and further reduce the required construction site area.
The lower weight of the wooden construction also has a positive effect on logistics: compared to concrete towers, the required transport volume is expected to be reduced by up to 60 percent. This not only protects the infrastructure in often rural construction areas but also the sensitive soil structure around the site. In addition, the smaller foundation reduces concrete requirements by up to 50 percent, according to the manufacturer – resulting in corresponding savings in costs, space, and CO₂ emissions.
The wood-hybrid towers are explicitly designed for use with modern large wind turbines. They are intended to reach hub heights of over 200 meters and are suitable for wind energy systems with a capacity of more than six megawatts – dimensions that align with the current trend toward increasingly powerful turbines.
The project is backed by the internationally active Hasslacher Group, which combines its many years of expertise in timber construction with modern wind energy technology. Hasslacher Green Tower GmbH handles the entire value chain: from production and sales to assembly and maintenance of the towers.
Another argument in favor of wood as a building material relates to the end of a turbine’s service life. While concrete and steel structures often can only be disposed of after dismantling, the wooden elements of the hybrid towers are intended to be reused in line with circular economy principles. According to the company, resource-efficient dismantling has been planned into the concept from the very beginning – and could thus make a significant contribution to the sustainability of wind energy.
