Micro wind turbines are making telecom towers energy independent

Vantage Towers hired MOWEA to install its modular micro wind turbines on 52 radio towers in Germany and cover two thirds of their energy consumption at average wind speeds.

Wind turbines work better the higher they are, which makes telecommunication towers an exceptional fit. Berlin-based startup MOWEA, which developed a solution to equip such facilities, signed a major deal with Vantage Towers, which operates at 82,000 locations.

In the first phase of the pilot project, over 750 micro wind turbines will be installed on 52 units in Germany to produce up to 650 GWh per year. Under average wind conditions, the green energy will cover two thirds of the towers’ energy requirements, the companies claim.

The String micro wind turbines are scheduled to be installed in the second half of the year pending permits

The power is not fed into the grid; it will be used on-site to power the equipment of Vodafone, Vantage Towers’ owner and largest customer. The String micro wind turbines are scheduled to be installed in the second half of the year pending permits.

Clean energy directly to the radio tower? 🗼
Yes, we can. 💪🏽@MoweaWind has developed a modular wind energy solution that covers up to 100% of the radio tower’s energy needs.
We introduce the first Wind-Powered Radio Tower.#cleanenergy #windpower #energy #telecommunications pic.twitter.com/lfSf3jsYsK

— MOWEA (Modular Wind Energy Systems) (@MoweaWind) February 9, 2022

MOWEA, founded in 2016, originated at the Technical University of Berlin. The startup said only 1.3% of the world’s 5.2 million telecom towers are powered by renewable energy.

MOWEA, which aims for a Europe-wide scale-up, also has modular machines for roofs of industrial buildings

Its wind energy systems have a modular and flexible design that can be adapted to tower energy requirements, according to the announcement, which adds they can be installed in places where conventional wind turbines are not an option. MOWEA, which aims for a Europe-wide scale-up, also has modular machines for roofs of industrial buildings, but such devices could be also used for residential structures.

Vantage Towers said it already has solar panels at around 90 of its sites and that the number would grow if the test phase is successful.