Vestas Wind Systems A/S (Aarhus, Denmark) reported on Sept. 17 that it will introduce this week its new V126-3.0 MW turbine. The turbine is the latest variant of the 3-MW platform on which the V112-3.0 MW is built.
The new V126-3.0 MW turbine has a rotor diameter of 126m/413 ft to target low-wind conditions (i.e., wind class IEC III) and features a structural shell blade design. The blade design halves the capital investment in new production lines, improves flexibility in manufacturing and is said to maintain the reliability and high quality of Vestas’ turbines.
The V126-3.0 MW turbine is mainly targeting the European markets. In August 2010, Vestas released the first turbine in its new 3-MW platform, the V112-3.0 MW turbine, which has been very well received by the market, resulting in an intake of firm and unconditional orders of more than 3 GW since the release.
Anders Vedel, executive vice president, Turbines R&D, says: “The rotor swept area of the new V126-3.0 MW wind turbine has been increased by 27 percent and the turbine is specifically designed to yield maximum power production on low-wind sites. There is a huge need for larger rotor sizes in the low wind market, particularly in Europe, and the V126-3.0 MW offers a new option for customers who want to combine the proven technology and serviceability of the 3-MW platform with greater power output in low-wind sites. Furthermore, the structural shell blade design halves the investments in new production lines.”
The first prototype of the V126-3.0 MW turbine is expected to be installed in Østerild, Denmark during second quarter 2013.
