Testing of “world’s largest” wind turbine to begin next year
Green R&D news - by GreenWise staff
25th November 2011
Initial prototype testing of Mitsubishi’s SeaAngel, a seven megawatt offshore wind turbine with a diameter of over 165 metres, will begin in the UK next year.
Mitsubishi, one of a number of
wind turbine companies lining up to manufacturer in the UK, said the giant wind turbine could be the world’s largest when it is manufactured and described the
SeaAngel as a "game changer", which would help maintain the UK’s leading position in the global offshore wind sector.
Vestas plans to build its biggest ever blade, which has a 164 metre rotor diameter, in the UK, next year.
As well as its size, the Mitsubishi turbine boasts unique hydraulic technology developed in Scotland, where Mitsubishi last year
announced a £100 million investment in an offshore wind
research and development centre and acquired hydraulic system specialist Artemis Intelligent Power (AIP).
"Less than one year after announcing our plans to develop the biggest highly innovative offshore turbine, we’ve successfully demonstrated the technology and are set to take SeaAngel to the next level with further testing in 2012." Dr Win Rampen, managing director of AIP, said. "This marks a significant step forward for offshore wind technology, with the breadth and depth of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries expertise and skills combined with AIP’s pioneering hydraulic technology producing incredibly exciting initial results."
AIP’s unique hydraulic Digital Displacement Transmission (DDT) technology will ensure "improved reliability and efficiency, and reduced maintenance costs" for offshore wind, said Mitsubishi. Offshore wind technology is still expensive and the Government wants to slash the cost from £175 megawatt hour (MWh) down to £100/MWh by 2020.
Mitsubishi said initial prototype testing of the SeaAngel will begin next year, with full-scale prototype testing expected to take place in the UK in 2013.
The SeaAngel will be unveiled at an offshore wind industry event in Amsterdam next week.
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