MHI Vestas Offshore Wind has confirmed to OWJ that it is developing what a spokesperson said is a “new, significantly larger and more powerful offshore wind turbine”
Confirmation from the company came after reports in the Danish press. MHI Vestas chief executive Philippe Kavafyan told Finans that the new platform “will be a significant step up in rotor size and capacity” compared to the company’s current platform, the V174-9.5.
In September 2018, the company unveiled plans for a 10-MW offshore turbine at Wind Energy Hamburg. At the time, the V164-10.0 MW was the offshore wind industry’s first ‘double-digit’ unit. A prototype of the V174-9.5 MW turbine, on which the 10-MW turbine is based, was installed at the Østerild National Test Centre in Denmark earlier this year.
In recent months, the company’s competitors GE Renewable Energy and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy have announced turbines in the 13-15 MW range. That being the case, it would seem likely that MHI Vestas’ new turbine would be in the same capacity range.
Mr Kavafyan told Finans that feedback from potential customers indicated that the new turbine would be “competitive.” He said it will be based “on the same architecture as today” and would also draw on technology developed by Vestas for its Enventus platform.
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind’s spokesperson said he could not provide more details at present or confirm the actual capacity of the turbine.
However, in a recent podcast, MHI Vestas chief technology officer Torben Larsen said, “technically there is no limit” to how large an offshore wind turbine might one day be.
Discussing new-generation turbines in general in The Offshore Wind Podcast – mega-turbines and supergrids, what is the cutting edge of offshore wind technology? Mr Larsen said 16-20 MW turbines were possible, rotor blades could be made longer, a turbine’s structure could use more steel and foundations could be larger in order to take greater loads.
But Mr Larsen said commercial considerations might limit turbine development, as might the logistics, transport and installation of mega-turbines if they do not evolve as quickly as turbine technology.
Riviera is hosting a week of free to attend 45-minute webinars focused on offshore wind commencing 2 November. Register your interest now
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.