The machine's geometry is entirely different from that of the V90 but, despite appearances, it has no relationship to the 4.5 MW technology developed by turbine manufacturer NEG Micon, which Vestas acquired in 2004, says Anders Soe Jensen, president of Vestas Offshore.
He stresses the V112 is not a replacement for the V90. "The V90 is a pure class-one machine," he says, referring to the high wind speed sites for which it is designed. The V90 was relaunched to the offshore market in February after its earlier withdrawal following series failures of gearboxes on UK and Dutch offshore sites. Jensen points out that during this time the machine was still being sold in large numbers for onshore sites. "It was taken off the offshore market for the single reason that you have many more challenges when you work offshore," he says. He stands by Vestas' solution to the V90 gearbox problems. "This machine is the most thoroughly tested machine - as is the gearbox. If we were not convinced by this solution we wouldn't sell it."
