Wind energy company Nordex Energy South Africa has confirmed the market readiness of the N175/6.X, which the company says is its most powerful onshore wind turbine so far.

This follows the Nordex Group’s successful installation of the turbine on its in-house developed hybrid concrete-steel tower in Santow, Germany, earlier this year.

Built on the established Delta4000 platform, which is already being deployed at two wind farms under construction in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, the N175/6.X features a hub height of up to 179 m. This next-generation turbine is designed to improve energy output, particularly in low- to medium-wind areas such as Mpumalanga, where taller towers can access stronger, more stable wind flows.

The Santow installation marks the highest Nordex tower ever built and the second deployment of the N175/6.X. The hybrid tower design is a product of more than 15 years of Nordex’s experience with concrete tower technology, including in South Africa, and has been further refined to support increased hub heights and enhanced structural efficiency.

The change in scope from the N163/6.X to the N175/6.X mainly involves the longer and optimised blade, as well as subsequent structural component reinforcements to carry the higher loads induced by the blade while maintaining the underlying technological design concept.

“With more wind projects moving to inland areas due to grid access constraints, technology that can maximise output in lower wind regimes becomes more important.

“Hub height plays a key role in that, and the hybrid tower supports these requirements while offering flexibility in construction and logistics,” Nordex Energy South Africa MD Robert Timmers explains.

He adds that the local manufacturing of concrete tower sections would stimulate regional employment, develop local skills and promote the procurement of South African raw materials.

“By enabling localised production and job creation, the hybrid tower solution supports the broader goals of energy transition in South Africa as it supports both economic development and industrial transformation,” Timmers says.

South Africa’s wind energy market has already seen an uptake of the Nordex Delta4000 platform, specifically the N163/6.X turbine. Both turbines share key systems, including the electrical system, which helps to streamline operations and maintenance, reduce retraining needs and manage technical risks, he explains.