Nordex has launched a new 6MW onshore wind turbine with technology based on its previous 4MW-plus and 5MW-plus models.
Its N163/6.X turbine will have a 163-metre rotor, flexible power rating of at least 6MW and stronger blades than its previous turbines.
The German manufacturer plans to install a prototype of its new N163/6.X turbine in mid-2022 and begin serial production in the first quarter of 2023.
In launching the new 6MW-plus model, Nordex joins the likes of Siemens Gamesa, Vestas, MingYang Smart Energy and GE Renewable Energy in offering 6MW onshore wind turbines.
Nordex had introduced its Delta4000 series of onshore wind turbines in 2017, with a flexible power range, and recently installed its first 5.X turbine. The platform initially had a 4MW-plus rating, but this was then upgraded to 5MW-plus and now 6MW-plus.
The manufacturer achieved the increase in power rating by making the gearbox more efficient through raising its nominal voltage and improving the cooling system.
However, it has not changed the exterior dimensions of the nacelle. This means that the manufacturer can continue to use the same logistics and installation processes as for previous turbines in the Delta platform.
The N163/6.X will have annual energy production (AEP) up to 7% higher than that of the N163/5.X model due to its higher rated output, Nordex claimed.
Meanwhile, the turbine’s flexibility and large number of operating modes mean that wind farms can be individually adapted for developers’ needs in terms of output, capacity factor, service life and sound emission requirements, the manufacturer added.
Nordex also uses a stronger version of the approximately 80-metre rotor blade it has used for the N163/5.X version. Its lower rotation speed means that the noise emission levels of the N163/6.X do not exceed 106.4 dB(A).
The N163/6.X is designed for moderate and light-wind regions, with a focus on core markets in Europe.
It comes with different tower variants depending on the market, with a height of up to 164 metres. Nordex also plans on offering a cold climate version with an advanced anti-icing system for the rotor blades.
Nordex CEO, José Luis Blanco, said: “Our turbines in the Delta4000 series are based on a standard technical platform.
“Consistent modularisation means that type-specific components, such as rotor blades or gearboxes, can be adapted for different variants.
“The N163/6.X is yet another example of how highly efficient solutions that have proved successful in practice can be specifically implemented for special geographic regions.”
