Alstom has signed a global partnership with Freyssinet to develop a 119m concrete tower specifically designed for its ECO122 wind turbine.

The new tower will be made of 11 concrete sections, the lowest measuring 7.20m in diameter, for the base of the structure.

The company has previously signed an MoU agreement with Max Bögl Wind to develop a 139m tower of hybrid design featuring a concrete bottom section and a steel top section.

The new partnership and the MoU agreement will provide the Alstom the ability to offer its customers two high tower options for its ECO122, suited to harness the stronger winds found at high altitude.

ECN has certified the ECO122 turbine following measurements taken over a two-month period on an initial ECO122 unit installed in Wieringermeer, Netherlands.

The ECO122 is now available in 3.0MW model, which will have a 6% higher yield than the 2.7MW version.

Alstom vice-president platform and product wind onshore Laurent Carme said, “By consistently investing in innovative wind turbines, we strive to ensure a better use of wind resources and a higher yield, regardless of wind characteristics. The new steps achieved today will help us to continue to provide our customers with more flexible and ever more efficient solutions.”