Germany has officially launched the world’s highest wind measurement mast, which stands at an impressive 300 meters tall and weighs almost 70 tons. The mast features 46 measuring devices and 99 installed mast elements. The project is located on the Klettwitz hill and boasts a prime location for research, being adjacent to a wind farm. The project’s official research operations began on May 4 with the symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony by the founder of GICON, Jochen Großmann, in front of more than 100 guests from politics and business.
The wind measurement mast will record wind speed, air pressure, temperature, precipitation, and the behavior of bats for the next twelve months, making it a vital tool in research for the energy sector. Saxony-based GICON® Group planned and implemented the project entirely from a single source, including the installation of two LiDAR systems to carry out measurements from the ground.
The project, which has a total volume of around €2.8 million, was commissioned by beventum GmbH, a subsidiary of the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation SPRIND, and funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Its aim is to develop the potential of high-altitude wind and solve location problems for wind turbines in Germany. The Renewable Energy Sources Act has set a target of creating 71 gigawatts of onshore wind energy nationwide by 2030.
According to beventum Managing Director Dr. Martin Chaumet, the world’s tallest wind measurement mast is the first step towards developing high-altitude wind, which should be followed by prototypes for high-altitude wind turbines. The turbines are expected to be about twice as high as previous wind turbines and use significantly more productive winds at high altitudes. Furthermore, they can be integrated into existing wind farms as a second level, achieving a much higher energy yield on the same area.
The project’s successful implementation is seen as a symbol of the region’s transformation and the successful transition to renewable energy. Saxony-based GICON® Group’s contribution to the project showcases how much potential there is for increasing wind energy yields. The project is also an excellent example for other communities to follow in the development of innovative technologies for the use of renewable energies.
