Company converts to variable pitch with new turbine design

Made Tecnologías, one of Spain's main champions of fixed pitch wind turbine technology, is moving towards variable speed and variable pitch with its new 800 kW design, the AE52. Indeed, shortly after installing the second prototype last year, Made spokesman Antonio de Lara stressed: "Variable speed synchronous wind turbines represent the future for turbine manufacturers." Development of the AE52 has been underway since 1999 and the first two prototypes came online during winter 2000-2001.

The machine's variable pitch and variable speed specifications enable it to operate at rated capacity in winds ranging from 12-25 m/s. The rotor spans 52 metres and drives a synchronous, three-phase, four-pole generator. Spain's state-run renewables agency, IDAE, paid for 40% of the AE 52's development cost. Made plans to launch another two versions of the 800 kW model, the AE 56 and AE 59, with increased rotor sizes for use in moderate and low wind conditions, respectively. Meantime, however, it also has the fixed pitch AE61-1320 kW machine in its line-up.