ATS Completes Pilot Project

- Siemens Supplies Nacelle and Rotor for First Wind Turbine with ATS Hybrid Tower

Grevenbroich - The first wind turbine with an ATS hybrid tower has been completed. After the concrete tower had been erected end of 2008, the Siemens steel tower segment has now also been installed at the Grevenbroich wind test site in North-Rhine Westphalia. The innovative pilot project has finally been completed with the installation of the nacelle – a 2.3 megawatt system from Siemens – and the rotor with a diameter of 93 meters. In April, the wind turbine is to be inaugurated. "We are proud to be able to contribute our share to the pilot project. In terms of efficiency and implementation, the innovative concept is setting new standards," says Gernot Ziegeldecker, managing director, Siemens Wind Power GmbH. "Renewable energies are a central topic for Siemens. Access to this tower technology provides Siemens with the innovation leadership," thus Dr. Wolfgang Bischoff, managing director of Siemens Project Ventures.

Netherlands tower specialist Advanced Tower Systems (ATS) has built one of the world's biggest wind turbines with hybrid tower in Grevenbroich. The innovative tower combines a lower segment consisting of long, narrow pre-cast ATS concrete components and an upper segment made of conventional steel elements. Altogether, the turbine measures 180 meters with a hub height at 133 meters. The tower has been installed and will be operated by the ATS Projekt Grevenbroich company, in which juwi Netzwerk GmbH &Co. KG, Mecal Projects GmbH, Hurks subsidiary HB Bau GmbH and Siemens Project Ventures GmbH (SPV) are equal partners.

"The tower enables great hub heights and thus higher energy yields at comparatively low total costs. It’s also easy to transport," says ATS managing director Frans Brughuis. Compared to widespread hub heights of 100 meters, the ATS system yields about 20% more energy. The higher expenditures incurred with the installation of the tower are recuperated within about four years. Moreover, maintenance costs are very low. Over the long course of a project, this ultimately means significantly lower electricity generation costs compared to today’s commercially available systems. That’s particularly important at inland locations with lower wind speeds.

"This innovative concept will make climate protection even more economically efficient than before," says ATS sales manager Johannes Bietz. The hybrid tower elements are designed such that no special transports are necessary and even difficult or rough locations will be easy to reach (e.g. in forests).


With annual sales of some EUR 400 million, the juwi group ranks among Germany’s leading renewable energy companies. With a staff of about 450, juwi is involved in the entire service value creation chain in the segments of photovoltaics, wind energy and bioenergy. So far, juwi has realized more than 300 wind turbines with a total capacity of more than 450 MW. In the solar segment, about 800 PV installations with a total capacity of more than 200,000 kilowatts of capacity were realized by the end of 2008.

Siemens Project Ventures GmbH (SPV) is a subsidiary of Siemens Financial Services. Together with renowned partners, SPV invests equity capital in the development of infrastructure projects worldwide, predominantly in the energy, transportation and telecommunications sectors. SPV has already been involved in the development of eleven international power generation projects representing a total capacity of more than 7,000 megawatts, as well as three telecommunications projects, one airport, and a particle therapy center, with a cumulative project volume amounting to USD 7 billion.

Mecal is an independent engineering company specializing in applied mechanics with industrial products in order to achieve a technological advantage for their customers. Mecal has a track record of more than 17 years experience in wind turbine technology. Founded in 1989, Mecal has grown into an organization with 100 employees in the Netherlands, the U.S., and in Japan.

Hurks Groep is one of the largest general contractors in the Netherlands. The company is leading as a builder of high-tech pre-cast concrete constructions, is reputedly innovative, and operates internationally. Hurks is a financially strong partner, with annual sales of Euro 350 million. It is the holding of 15 companies, with a total of 1,000 employees.


Grevenbroich, March 10th, 2009


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Attention editorial offices: For further questions please contact:

Mr. Johannes Bietz
Sales Manager Advanced Tower Systems (ATS)
Energie-Allee 1
55286 Wörrstadt
Tel: + 49 (0) 6732 - 96 57 2810
Mobil: + 49 (0) 172 - 6699216
Mail: bietz@ats.eu
Internet: http://www.ats.eu


Mr. Ralf Heidenreich
Press Officer juwi Holding AG
Energie-Allee 1
55286 Wörrstadt
Tel: 06732 - 96 57 1207
Mobil: 0173 - 65 98 211
Mail: heidenreich@juwi.de
Internet: http://www.juwi.de

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