Nordex Energy South Africa has confirmed the market readiness of its most powerful onshore wind turbine to date, the N175/6.X. This announcement follows the successful installation of the turbine on a hybrid concrete-steel tower in Santow, Germany, earlier this year, marking a significant milestone for the company.
Built on the proven Delta4000 platform, the N175/6.X is already being deployed at two wind farms under construction in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The turbine features a hub height of up to 179 meters, making it ideally suited for low- to medium-wind areas like Mpumalanga. Its taller design allows it to access stronger, more stable wind flows, optimizing energy output in regions with less favorable wind conditions.
The Santow installation, which featured the highest Nordex tower ever built, also marked the second deployment of the N175/6.X. The hybrid tower design, developed over 15 years of Nordex’s expertise in concrete tower technology, has been further refined to support taller hub heights and improve structural efficiency.
The upgrade from the previous N163/6.X model to the N175/6.X primarily involves a longer, optimized blade, along with reinforced structural components to handle the increased loads while maintaining the turbine’s technological design integrity.
“With more wind projects moving inland due to grid access limitations, the ability to maximize output in lower wind regions is becoming increasingly crucial,” said Robert Timmers, Managing Director of Nordex Energy South Africa. “Hub height plays a critical role in achieving this, and the hybrid tower is designed to support these requirements while providing flexibility in construction and logistics.”
Timmers also highlighted the benefits of local manufacturing, noting that the production of concrete tower sections in South Africa would create jobs, develop skills, and support the use of local raw materials. He emphasized that this hybrid tower solution aligns with the broader goals of South Africa’s energy transition, contributing to both economic development and industrial transformation.
The N175/6.X turbine shares key systems with the previously deployed N163/6.X, including its electrical system, which simplifies operations and maintenance, reduces retraining needs, and helps manage technical risks. This continuity ensures a smooth transition for the South African wind energy market as it continues to expand.