Stabilized wind turbines, systems for stabilizing wind turbines, and methods for installing same

A wind turbine supported by a plurality of cables, the wind turbine comprising:

• a tower comprising:
• at least two tower sections, including an upper section having a lower end and a lower section having an upper end, the lower section at its upper end including an inwardly directed flange, the inwardly directed flange having a plurality of first through-bores and a wall from which the inwardly directed flange extends;
• and
• an interface module secured to the upper end of the lower section and including an annular member from which one or more ears extend outwardly and downwardly so that a neutral axis of the ear intersects a neutral axis of the annular member at a neutral axis of the wall, each ear being configured to be coupled to one of the plurality of cables, the annular member including a plurality of first bores that align with the plurality of first through-bores in the inwardly directed flange, and
• an energy generating unit being disposed on the tower and configured to produce electrical energy from wind;
• wherein the annular member includes an outside surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and an inner surface, the inner surface including a channel, wherein the plurality of first bores and the plurality of second bores extend only partway into the annular member and terminate at a location spaced between the channel and the outer surface.

A method of installing a wind turbine including an energy generating unit and a wind turbine tower to be coupled to a plurality of cables, the method comprising:

• installing at least one lower tower section on a foundation, an uppermost one of the at least one lower tower section having an upper end and including an inwardly directed flange at its upper end, the inwardly directed flange having a plurality of first through-bores;
• installing an interface module on the upper end of the at least one lower tower section, the interface module including an annular member and a plurality of ears extending outwardly, each ear for receiving one of the plurality of cables, the annular member including a plurality of first bores, wherein installing includes aligning the plurality of first bores with the plurality of first through-bores in the inwardly directed flange, wherein the annular member includes an outside surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and an inner surface, the inner surface including a channel, wherein the plurality of first bores extend only partway into the annular member and terminate at a location spaced between the channel and the outer surface;
• inserting a plurality of threaded fasteners through individual ones of the plurality of first through-bores and into individual ones of the plurality of first bores to secure the interface module to the uppermost one of the at least one lower tower section;
• after securing the interface module, tensioning each cable between one of the plurality of ears and an anchor and
• after tensioning, installing the energy generating unit on the wind turbine tower,
• wherein inserting the plurality of fasteners includes securing the interface module to the upper most one of the at least one lower tower section and prior to installing the energy generating unit, the method further comprising:
• installing an upper tower section on the interface module.