World’s tallest wooden wind turbine promises a cleaner future

Wooden turbines could help eliminate the carbon emissions coming from steel production.
By Teodosia Dobriyanova  on 
An aerial shot shows workers standing inside a wooden wind turbine as it is being constructed.
Watch Next

From quick hits to deep dives, this Mashable series cuts through the noise to explain what on Earth is going on and what you should know about it.


The world's tallest wooden wind turbine (standing 150 metres high), located just outside Gothenburg, Sweden, has been in operation since the end of 2023. Its thick walls are supported by 144 layers of thin, laminated veneer lumber pressed together, which are created in a factory and then transported on site, where they are assembled and glued together.

According to the turbine's creators at tech engineering company Modvion, the wooden tower’s modularity allows for easier construction of tall wind turbines, which are more efficient at capturing strong winds.

Emitting around 12 grams of CO2 per kilowatt, wind power is one of the cleanest sources of electricity currently available. Modvion, which makes its turbines using sustainably farmed spruces, says that wood can eliminate wind power’s negative environmental footprint, the majority of which comes from the carbon-intensive steel production.

Picture of Teodosia
Teodosia Dobriyanova
Video Producer

Teodosia is a video producer at Mashable UK, focussing on stories about climate resilience, urban development, and social good.


More from Mashable Now
Rare POV footage captures polar bears in their melting habitat
A split screen image shows the POV of two polar bears swimming together, with their heads above the surface (left), and submerged underwater (right)

What if protecting coral reefs means growing them on land?
A split screen shows three images of corals - one of two hands holding a coral, one of the corals under water on the land farm, and one of a coral reef in the ocean.

Drone footage shows Iceland volcano eruption’s damage on Grindavík
An aerial drone photograph shows the Icelandic town of Grindavík during the volcano eruption on Sunday, 14 January 2024. In the backround, we see new eruptions from the fresh fissures in an immediate proximity to the town.

St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City gets a digital twin
A split screen shows a photograph of St Peter's Basilica in Vatican city (left), juxtaposed with a B&W 3D render (right). Caption reads: "Digital twin"

An entire country ran on renewable energy for six days straight
A picture shows the top of a typical portuguese house, yellow walls, dark green shutters, and a red rooftop. Behind it, against the blue sky a win turbine is peeking in the background.

Latest Videos
'Futurama' voice legends John DiMaggio and David Herman recreate iconic movie lines with their most popular characters
Futurama voice actors play 'Say Action'

Jimin and Jungkook's travel show trailer is pure gold
Jungkook and Jimin from BTS on a hike.



Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman on 'Chicken Shop Date' is hilariously awkward
Two men sit in a chicken shop in side-by-side images.


Lestat rocks out in 'Interview With The Vampire' Season 3 teaser
close up of a pale white man's face

James Gunn's 'Creature Commandos' gets an SDCC teaser
Creature Commandos

'Like a Dragon: Yakuza' is taking the mean streets of Kamurocho to Prime Video
Like a Dragon: Yakuza


The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!