National Renewable Energy Laboratory NREL 2002 - 2004

“Post-tensioned concrete towers of the same extreme load capacity are of similar stiffness as steel towers.”

“A post-tensioned concrete tower has better fatigue properties because of the small stress range ratio (maximum stress range/applied post tensioning stress) compared
to the applied stress on the concrete and post-tensioning tendons.”

“There is no local buckling issue in the post-tensioned concrete tower such as may govern the design for larger steel towers.”

“The material cost for a large concrete tower is less than that for a large steel tower.”

“Concrete can offer high-performance wind tower solutions with improved fatigue resistance and reduced noise emissions.”

“Concrete’s design flexibility and adaptable material properties allow for tower configurations to suit all locations and construction needs.”

“Concrete wind towers are feasible structures which, in terms of performance, already fulfill the current and future requirements of the wind turbine industry.”

“Concrete enables the construction of high performance wind towers of unlimited height and with lower maintenance requirements.”

“Concrete is the serious contender for building durable 100m high wind towers with the necessary integral design flexibility.”