Vestas 15 MW Prototype Now At Full Throttle
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Last week, three months after it was installed at the National Test Center for large wind turbines in Østerild, Denmark, Vestas’s V236-15.0 MW prototype wind turbine reached its nominal power rating of 15 MW.
On the 30th December 2022, I wrote Vestas 15 MW Prototype Turbine Produces First Power.
It appears to me, that going from startup to full power in a few days over three months indicates that testing has gone well.
I suspect too, that this apparently successful first test indicates that 15 MW will quickly become a standard size for wind turbines.
Full certification is expected from the third quarter of this year.
The Anonymous Widower 
Like Charles Parsons steam turbine invention in the late 19th C the speed with which it was scaled up was extraordinary and the same is happening to wind turbines although they will never reach the same electrical output of a modern steam turbine they have had to over come a multitude of other challenges for construction them. Interesting to see whether we go much beyond 20MW given the size and weight of the nacelles as well as being able to lift much beyond 120m hub height – there aint no helicopter that could even lift a blade so air construction is a non starter.
Also as ive said before we have some oldish installations now that could be repowered with more efficient turbines which could allow the density to be reduced on ones built near teh coast to reduce the visual effects.
Comment by Nicholas Lewis | April 9, 2023 |
The work I did with Balaena Structures in Cambridge convinces me that it would be possible to build a large monopole horizontally and float it out of the building dock.
It could then be turned through ninety degrees and will happily float vertically using seawater as ballast in the lower end of the structure. It could then be moved to alongside a dock, where a crane on the dock could do the assembly safely and easily.
The monopole could then be towed into position and anchored to the seabed. Some of Balaena’s tricks would help.
A similar process could be used by floating turbines and it is already done.
To handle upwards of 20 MW, you would build a bigger crane on the dockside.
Comment by AnonW | April 9, 2023 |