Nabrawind Self Erecting Tower (Nabralift) is a cutting-edge wind turbine tower technology that breaks all the barriers that are restraining the growth of the wind turbines hub height. Nabralift consists on a three-column framed structure installed under the uppermost part of a WTG tubular tower and integrates a Self-Erection System (SES) that allows the installation of a full WTG (tower, nacelle, rotor) without using large-size cranes regardless of the final hub-height.

After the installation of the initial 160 m tall prototype in Navarra, Spain, in 2018, the first commercial turbines have been successfully deployed in Morocco (144 m, 2022) and France (102 m, 2023). Plans are currently underway for projects surpassing 190 m in height, scheduled for the years 2024 and 2025 in China and South Africa.

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PRODUCTS

Nabrawind Self Erecting Tower (Nabralift) is a new wind turbine tower technology that break all the barriers that are restraining the growth of the wind turbines hub height. Nabralift consists on a three-columns structure installed under the uppermost part of a WTG tubular tower and integrates a Self-Erection System (SES) that allows the installation of a full WTG (tower, nacelle, rotor) without using large-size cranes regardless of the final hub-height.

Technical barriers and costs associated with the manufacturing, transport, installation and maintenance of XXL towers hinder the viability of many wind farms when utilizing existing tower technology:

Costs

Tower manufacturing, transportation and installation costs increase significantly, making additional hub height increase unprofitable in many cases.

Cranes

The requirement for very large and costly cranes, coupled with extended assembly and disassembly times, becomes a considerable challenge in the deployment of wind turbine projects with tall towers.

Logistics

Logistic contraings may render certain locations inaccessible for projects, amplifying costs and extending project durations due to the necessity for specialized equipment.

Environmental Impact

The environmental footprint of tall towers is large, due to the substantial size of their foundations and the GHG emissions increase during the tower manufacturing, transportation and installation.

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The Nabralift Tower

The Nabralift Tower is a metallic hybrid support structure formed by:

  • An upper metallic tubular tower segment larger than the blade, so that blade tip clearance is unaffected.
  • A straight frame tower segment constituted by several modules of uniform height, composed by three vertical columns and a x-type bracing in the three module sides.
  • A metallic transition part between the upper tubular tower segment and the frame tower segment.

Tower foundation is dramatically simplified with Nabralift technology, with reductions in the concrete volume up to 80% compared with conventional solutions. According to the site characteristics three types of solutions may be chosen: gravitational, piled or anchor rock foundations.

 

The Nabralift Tower

The Nabralift Tower is a metallic hybrid support structure formed by:

  • An upper metallic tubular tower segment larger than the blade, so that blade tip clearance is unaffected.
  • A straight frame tower segment constituted by several modules of uniform height, composed by three vertical columns and a x-type bracing in the three module sides.
  • A metallic transition part between the upper tubular tower segment and the frame tower segment.

    Tower foundation is dramatically simplified with Nabralift technology, with reductions in the concrete volume up to 80% compared with conventional solutions. According to the site characteristics three types of solutions may be chosen: gravitational, piled or anchor rock foundations.

The Self-Erecting System

Nabralift integrates a Self-Erecting System (SES) that allows the installation of a full WTG (tower, nacelle, rotor) without using large-size cranes regardless of the final hub-height. For this purpose, the SES is able to hoist the WTG in intermediate stages and install tower sections under it.

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The Self-Erecting System

Nabralift integrates a Self-Erecting System (SES) that allows the installation of a full WTG (tower, nacelle, rotor) without using large-size cranes regardless of the nal hub-height. For this purpose, the SES is able to hoist the WTG in intermediate stages and install tower sections under it.

The Self-Erecting Process

The tower transition is fixed on the foundation, and after the tubular tower section, the nacelle and rotor are installed with a small standard crane. Then, the Self-Erecting System (SES) is installed on the tower foundation, and one erection cycle is repeated for every frame module: the SES jaws clamp the tower, which is detached from the foundation and elevated. Then, the frame module is guided and fixed to the foundation interface. The tower is then lowered and connected to the new frame module.

SES is designed to operate in high wind conditions (up to 15m/s), avoiding inoperative time periods in the WTG assembly.

Breaking XXL Tower Barriers

Nabralift, together with its Self-Erecting System, breaks all the barriers that are restraining the growth of the wind turbines hub height:
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Drastic Cost Reduction

Tower full-cost (also including foundation, logistics and installation) is reduced by a 15/30%.

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Crane-less Installation

Self Erecting System avoids using large-size cranes regardless of the final hub-height, and allows the installation of the turbine at wind speeds of 15m/s

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Logistic Friendly

The modular approach of the Nabralift tower limits to 4.3m the maximum diameter of all components, even for final hub heights of 200 m. As a consequence, all logistic barriers are removed.

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Eco Friendly

GHG emissions are reduced by 40% compared to traditional concepts. The assembly platform is also reduced by 40%, limiting the site footprint.

Nabralift has been highlighted by MAKE Consulting as one of “the technologies capable of revolutionising the wind power industry“.

This Project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation porgramme under grant agreement Nº 880041 H2020 – SMI Instrument Phase 2

Nabralift Corporate Video

Nabralift corporate video 2024

Highest Wind Turbine in Africa

Nabralift first commercial tower (standing upon a 3.6MW-120 wind turbine) will be the highest wind turbine of Africa with 142 meter of hub height. This Nabralift tower reduces by 70% the CO2 footprint during its installation. Furthermore, thanks to the extra height coming from Nabralift, it will produce 2.500 MW/h extra annually, reducing the use of coal (main energy in the Morocco) and saving 2.500 tons of CO2 per year. The tower will also produce extra electricity for 2.500 people in Morocco.

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