Northstar Wind Towers to Design Taller Tower for Clipper Wind

Clipper Windpower Plc (CWP.L) has entered into a design agreement with Northstar Wind Towers for a tower design option that enables taller wind turbine towers in the range of 80 to 120 meters.

Northstar will produce a tower design certified by Germanischer Lloyd for utilization with Clipper’s 2.5-megawatt (MW) Liberty wind turbine. The taller tower will be an option that will become available for turbine sales in the 2009-2010 timeframe. 

Bob Gates, Clipper’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, said "We’re exploring the feasibility and cost effectiveness of a number of tower design options to enable the highest-value installations in just about every terrain, climate and wind resource. The Northstar tower enables a taller tower alternative with low transportation costs due to its modular design–our customers will appreciate the ability to choose as they optimize their wind turbine investment."

The Northstar tower design is based on the modular application used in bridges and high-rise structures. Modular steel sections are held in place by slip-critical, or "friction" connections. Tower appearance is similar in form to standard tubular tower designs.

About Northstar Wind Towers

Northstar Wind Towers (www.northstarwindtowers.com) offers modular wind turbine towers for the expanding global wind energy market. Based just north of Omaha, Nebraska, the company’s core business focuses on delivering quality custom-fitted, modular wind turbine towers from 80 to 120 meters. Northstar says its towers are scalable, easily transportable, stronger than the industry standard tubular steel tower, and highly cost effective.

About Clipper Windpower

Clipper Windpower is a rapidly growing company engaged in wind energy technology, turbine manufacturing, and wind project development. With offices in the USA (California, Colorado, Iowa and Maryland), Mexico, Denmark and the United Kingdom, and a ISO9001:2000 QMS Certified 330,000 square foot manufacturing and assembly facility located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the company designs advanced wind turbines, manufactures its 2.5-MW Liberty wind turbine and actively develops wind power generating projects in the Americas and Europe.