Vestas has launched a new offshore wind turbine – the V236-15.0MW –featuring the industry’s largest wind swept area and rotor diameter, as well as the highest nominal power rating.
The giant turbine will have a rotor diameter of 236 metres and a wind-swept area of 43,743m2. The industry’s next largest wind turbine, GE’s Haliade-X, has a rotor diameter of 220 metres and wind swept area of 38,013m2.
Meanwhile, the V236’s 15MW power rating surpasses the 14MW rating of the latest models announced by rival manufacturers Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and GE Renewable Energy.
Vestas explained that it had optimised design synergies from existing turbines, such as its 9.5MW offshore model and its onshore EnVentus platform to produce the 15MW turbine.
“With the V236-15.0MW, we raise the bar in terms of technological innovation and industrialisation in the wind energy industry, in favour of building scale,” chief technology officer Anders Nielsen said.
“By leveraging Vestas’ extensive proven technology, the new platform combines innovation with certainty to offer industry-leading performance while reaping the benefits of building on the supply chain of our entire product portfolio.
“The new offshore platform forms a solid foundation for future products and upgrades.”
For an in-depth, exclusive look at how Vestas developed the V236-15.0MW, click here
Vestas claimed the V236-15.0MW will be capable of producing 80GWh/year, enough to power around 20,000 European households, and save up to 38,000 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of removing 25,000 passenger cars from the road every year.
The V236-15.0MW will have a 65% higher annual energy production than Vestas’ next largest offshore wind turbine – the V174-9.5MW – the Danish manufacturer stated.
It expects to install a first prototype in 2022, before starting serial production in 2024.
Vestas added that its customers would be able to include the V236-15.0MW for their bids in offshore wind tenders this year.
CEO Henrik Andersen added: “Offshore wind will play an integral role in the growth of wind energy, and the V236-15.0MW will be a driver in this development by lowering levelised cost of energy (LCoE), thus making our customers more competitive in offshore wind tenders.”
He had previously told reporters that a new offshore wind platform would be key to Vestas leading the market by 2025, following its acquisition of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ stake in their joint venture.
