Advanced Towers Systems (ATS) specialists of steel-concrete-hybrid towers

German-Dutch joint venture Advanced Tower System (ATS) successfully closed its business year 2012 and has entered 2013 with a new company structure. Up until now, more than 20 wind turbines have been equipped with ATS steel-concrete-hybrid towers. Prospectively, there will be even more ATS projects but also new responsibilities within the company: While ATS B.V. enhances engineering services as well as the license business outside of Europe, ATS Construction GmbH in Europe is responsible for sales, project development and construction. Both ATS companies are joint ventures between Dutch engineering company MECAL and the German juwi group. ATS Construction GmbH is headed by Claus Herting, an experienced manager with a proven track record in the wind energy industry. Before joining juwi, Herting was with REpower Systems SE and the specialists in tower construction, SIAG.

The highlight project in 2012 was the construction of 16 towers at the Gau-Bickelheim wind farm, about 30 kilometers southwest of Mainz/Germany. Characteristic for this wind farm are wind turbines with hub heights of 145 meters. On top of the towers 16 Kenersys K110 wind turbines generate up to 40 megawatts of total capacity. “As in many other wind farms, the ATS concept has proved to be the right choice for Gau-Bickelheim“, Herting summarizes. “Due to their slim concrete elements, our towers significantly reduce costs and time – for the logistics during the transport as well as for the installation on site“, the ATS Managing Director outlines the advantages of the ATS tower system. This year, ATS will construct 40 additional towers and thus double its project capacity. For the time being, the focus will be on wind projects in low-wind regions. Here, high towers significantly increase the energy yield.

Photo by juwi AG

There are two reasons that ATS aims high in the future: Firstly, almost every wind turbine of renowned manufacturers can be combined with ATS towers. Secondly, ATS offers its towers to all project developers. “This way, we can participate even more in the growing markets for wind turbines with high hub heights. We offer the market a reliable and economically attractive alternative to other tower systems”, Herting emphasizes. The two reputable parent companies MECAL and juwi as well as the 20 members of the ATS team who have been active in the wind industry for years guarantee high standards and competencies. “Taking advantage of the first projects we will expand the product range of our towers for several other turbine manufacturers. In the future, we will also serve new markets, for example in Scandinavia,” says Herting.

For further information visit www.juwi.com

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