Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Adwen and Winergy present the world’s biggest wind-turbine gearbox

By Michelle Froese | September 1, 2016

Adwen and Winergy worked in closer cooperation to develop the gearbox for Adwen’s AD 8-180 offshore wind turbine. With an input torque of close to 10,000 kilonewton-meters (kNm) and a weight of 86 tonnes. it is the largest wind-turbine gearbox ever built in the world.

With an input torque of close to 10,000 kilonewton-meters (kNm) and a weight of 86 tonnes it is the largest wind turbine gearbox ever built in the world.

With an input torque of close to 10,000 kilonewton-meters and a weight of 86 tonnes it is the largest wind-turbine gearbox ever built in the world.

Winergy’s gearbox was designed exclusively for the AD 8-180 wind turbine. It is part of a medium-speed drivetrain concept that will considerably help reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) on Adwen’s new offshore giant.

At 180 meters, the AD 8-180 boasts the world’s largest-diameter rotor. In combination with a nominal electrical power of 8 MW the gearbox attains an input torque of close to 10,000 kNm – a value never before equaled.

This 70% increase in torque capacity was achieved with only a 20% weight increase compared to other gearboxes used in offshore wind turbines larger than 6 MW.

The two-stage-planetary gearbox is directly connected to a medium-speed generator via a flange connection. Thanks to the choice of a medium-speed gearbox concept and leveraging proven technologies well known by both companies, Adwen and Winergy can successfully maximize the efficiency of the drivetrain, while cutting the cost of the components.

In tests the gearbox attains an efficiency of well over 98%. Further, by reducing the built-in components its reliability increases.

Winergy has manufactured four gearboxes for Adwen with the goal of having them fully validated in three phases. The first one takes place at Winergy on modified test bench which is being used for the back-to-back testing of two identical gearboxes with up to 125% over loading. Adwen’s validation process, the most stringent ever taken on a gearbox and drivetrain this size, requires these tests to guarantee maximum reliability of such a critical component.

The second phase takes place at Fraunhofer IWES Test Center’s Dynamic Nacelle Testing Laboratory where the gearbox undergoes exhaustive tests in combination with full drivetrain and nacelle. The final phase is field tests with the installation of the AD 8-180 prototype in Bremerhaven (Germany).

“We continue pushing the limits of the industry with our AD 8-180, this time with the largest gearbox ever built. This key component has performed extremely well during the exhaustive validation process which makes us confident the first prototype of the turbine will meet and even exceed our expectations in terms of performance and reliability when it is installed,” explained Luis Alvarez, CEO of Adwen. “In addition, as is the case of all main components, it has been designed with scalability in mind enabling future evolution of the platform.”

Winergy CEO Aarnout Kant adds, “Particularly in the offshore sector reliability is the essential thing. With this medium-speed gearbox concept we are demonstrating our technological expertise and innovative strength. The integrated drive system is not only very compact and efficient, it is also extremely reliable. It makes us proud to be Adwen’s partner on this showcase project.”


Filed Under: Gearboxes, News
Tagged With: adwen
 

About The Author

Michelle Froese

Related Articles Read More >

US government allows Empire Wind offshore project to resume construction
Richardson Electronics to deliver pitch energy modules to TransAlta wind fleets
Equinor halts work on Empire Wind offshore project after federal government order
ARESCA wants input on offshore wind standards

Podcasts

Wind Spotlight: Looking back at a year of Thrive with ZF Wind Power
See More >

Windpower Engineering & Development Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Browse the most current issue of Windpower Engineering & Development and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading wind power engineering magazine today.

Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Wind Articles
  • Solar Power World
  • Subscribe to Windpower Engineering
  • About Us/Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising

Search Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe