Offshore Wind Turbine launch from Vestas

At the European Offshore Wind Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, Vestas
will announce a new turbine for the offshore market.

The V112-3.0 MW offshore model is optimised for the conditions at sea and will
be a hard working, reliable turbine. The V112-3.0 MW Offshore can generate more
power than any other turbine in the 3 MW class. It offers an exceptional
rotor-to-generator ratio for greater efficiency, and delivers high reliability,
serviceability and availability under all wind and weather conditions – setting
a whole new standard for turbine performance and efficiency. It features an
extended production envelope, and delivers optimal output in average wind speeds
up to 9.5 m/s. The V112-3.0 MW will be class individually IECS certified for
each separate offshore project.

“This is a milestone for Vestas. The launch of yet another turbine for the
offshore market underlines our commitment to remain a strong and leading player
in the offshore industry. Vestas is fully dedicated to keep servicing our
offshore customers and to provide them with the best possible business case
certainty. The V112-3.0 MW Offshore is one more step towards Vestas becoming
even more competitive in the offshore market, and we do not intend to stop here.
We are in the offshore market for the long run, and we will therefore have even
more to reveal in this respect within the coming months,” Anders Søe-Jensen,
President of Vestas Offshore explains.

As an outcome of this dedication, Vestas has joined a research programme with
Nowitech, Norway, on floating foundations suitable for water depths of more than
30 metres.

“We are continuously looking into different solutions and materials that will
bring even more value to our customers and lower the cost of energy in future
offshore wind power plants. In that respect, floating foundations could be one
possibility, and we consequently want to be involved in the relevant research
being conducted,” Anders Søe-Jensen continues.

Marketing of the V112-3.0 MW Offshore will commence now, and the first turbines
will be installed in late 2010 and serial delivery in 2011.

Wind Turbines off shore in Germany

A consortium of companies, EWE, E.ON, Vattenfall, and DOTI (Deutsche Offshore-Testfeld und Infrastruktur GmbH), has completed construction of the first of 12 wind turbines for the alpha ventus offshore wind farm in the North Sea. It’s the first offshore wind farm in German waters. The 5-MW turbine is situated 45 km north of Borkum island. Wind turbine construction began in mid-April 2009 and all 12 turbines in the €250 million project are scheduled for work by end of 2009. “For the first time, wind turbines of this size are being constructed this far offshore in 30-m deep waters,” says Wilfried Hube (EWE), overall project leader of alpha ventus.

Ongoing activities at sea can be followed on the internet. A webcam on the research platform FINO1 is focused on the construction site. A link to the webcam can be found right here.

5-MW turbine intended for on and offshore

The REpower 5M takes company technology to a larger dimension. With a rated power of 5 MW and a rotor diameter of 126 m, the 5M is one of the largest and most powerful wind turbines in the world. The unit, says REpower, Portland, Oreg., sets new standards for the economic viability of windfarms, especially in offshore installations. Windfarms with turbines of this output power are similar to conventional power plants. This in turn puts high demands on the control and regulation system because it is essential to optimize integration into the power grid. REpower says the 5M shows how compatibility with the grid can be improved. The company says its modular structure and logistical flexibility makes the 5M suitable for onshore and offshore installations. The offshore version withstands extreme environmental conditions thanks to redundancy of key components, effective protection against corrosion, and a permanent monitoring system.

The table includes a few specs.