The company says its new Generation Delta 3 and 3.3 MW turbines achieve an increase of up to 31% in yields
Nordex SE has unveiled the fourth generation of its multi-megawatt platform at the recent European wind power conference EWEA. The company says with larger rotors, increased nominal output, and optimized technical systems, Generation Delta is setting new standards in terms of economic efficiency, reliability, serviceability, and safety. Uniting proven Nordex technology with specific enhancements, the range comprises turbines for medium (IEC2) and strong wind speeds (IEC1). In this way, the company will target wind markets in the UK and Ireland, Scandinavia, France, Turkey, and Northern Germany, broadening its existing Generation Gamma range with the addition of highly efficient systems for windy locations.
“Our foremost goal is to lower electricity production costs. The new Nordex multi-megawatt turbines achieve an increase of up to 31% in yields, making them a particularly worthy investment,” says Dr. Jürgen Zeschky, CEO of Nordex SE.
Generation Delta comprises the N117/3000 with an installed capacity of 3.0 MW for medium wind speeds. This is a 20% increase in nominal output over its predecessor. Designed for locations characterized by high wind speeds, the N100/3300 has an installed capacity of 3.3 MW, resulting in a more than 30% increase in nominal output. The higher nominal output of these turbines has a positive effect on energy yields. Yet, despite this substantial increase in output, sound power levels have remained stable in both wind classes.
At the same time, larger rotors are being used in both wind classes. Thus, the rotor diameter of the
Thanks to the large rotor sweep of the N117/3000, its nominal output and tall towers, the wind farm will achieve an annual yield of around 20 million kWh of clean electricity, equivalent to a capacity factor of 38%.
N117/3000 has grown by 17m, resulting in an increase of about 37% in the rotor sweep and significantly higher efficiency with about 10% higher numbers during full-load hours. The N100/3300 has a rotor diameter 10m more than its predecessor, driving the swept area of the rotor up by 23% and contributing to even higher energy yields.
In addition, the Generation Delta’s turbines come with taller hub heights per wind class, enabling additional gains in annual energy production and opening up complex forested sites for wind turbine installations. Thus, Nordex offers a steel-tube tower with a hub height of 120m for medium wind-speed locations for the first time. The N100/3300 is now also available on a steel-tube tower with a hub height of 100m for strong-wind sites.
Nordex has also improved its product offering for cold regions. Generation Delta comes with the company’s Anti-Icing system for the 58.5-m rotor blades fitted to the N117/3000 and also for the N100/3300. This is a first for strong-wind locations. This system heats the aerodynamically most important surfaces of the rotor blades, thus efficiently reducing ice formation. As a result, owners can rely on secure yields from their wind turbines and maximum availability in low-temperature regions.
Generation Delta allows swift and safe servicing. This lowers costs during operations. A spinner, which completely encapsulates the rotor hub, ensures quick and safe access to this part of the turbine. The turbine nacelle is a particularly safe and spacious workplace and features extended escape and rescue routes. Automatic lubrication of the pitch bearing raceways does away with the need for manual attention to this matter, thus further reducing and shortening on-site maintenance requirements. Deliveries of the Generation Delta turbines begin in 2014. Initial projects involving the N117/3000 and N100/3300 are being installed from mid 2013.
Just one day after the public presentation of its Generation Delta wind power systems, Nordex received its first contract for the delivery and installation of a wind farm complete with Generation Delta turbines from Raahen Tuulienergia Oy in Finland. Nordex has signed a contract with a joint venture forged by local grid operator Raahen Energia Oy and Bridgehead Productions Ltd. Oy for two N117/3000 turbines each with an installed nominal output of 3 MW. The two pre-ordered turbines are to be produced and installed this year.
The site is located in the port area of the Northern Finnish town of Raahe and is characterized by wind speeds of over 8 m/s – medium wind conditions. Nordex is assembling one turbine on a 91-m tall and the other on a 120m steel tube tower. As the site experiences periods of extremely low temperatures, down to -30ºC, Nordex will be supplying cold-climate versions of the turbine. In addition, the sound power produced by the turbines will not exceed 106 dB.
Nordex
www.nordex-online.com
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