French group Alstom has just completed the seaside installation of its new-generation offshore wind turbine, the 6MW (megawatt) Haliade 150 machine, off Ostend harbour
This is the largest offshore wind turbine ever installed in the marine environment anywhere and so sets a new world record.
The company has developed the giant machine with an eye on the UK’s huge Round Three wind projects, even though most are well behind schedule.
Alstom claims that its 150m rotor (with 73.5m blades) means that the Haliade machine is more efficient with a yield said to be 15% better than existing offshore turbines.
Basically one 6MW turbine could satisfy the power needs of 5,000 homes.
The Ostend turbine is the second 6MW Alstom Haliade 150 commissioned. The first started trials in March 2012 at Le Carnet in France and successfully obtained in May this year the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) power performance measurement (power curve).
The purpose of the Ostend trial is to demonstrate that the Haliade can stand up to the marine environment for which it was specifically designed and developed.
The turbine’s 61m jacket has been set on top of pillars which have been driven to more than 60m depth. The turbine tower is 76m high and the power nacelle sits more than 100m above sea level.
The overall weight of the turbine and its structure totals 1,500 tonnes . . . not a lot more than each of the RePower turbines installed in the UK Beatrice oilfield located in the Outer Moray Firth.
Alstom has done away with the gearbox, which has proved to be something of an Achilles heel for wind turbines. Haliade is instead direct drive which is more reliable; also lighter than if it had a gearbox.
Thanks to a permanent-magnet generator, there are also fewer mechanical parts inside the device, which should improve reliability so helping to reduce running costs.
Alstom expects the Ostend machine to secure final certification during the first half of 2014.
Meanwhile, construction of Alstom’s two factories in Saint-Nazaire (nacelles and generator) is well under way, and will end around summer 2014. The construction of the two Cherbourg factories (blades and towers) will follow.
Alstom is widely regarded as a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and often sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies.
It totally eclipses anything that the UK can offer with the exception of Rolls-Royce. However, the latter is not involved in wind turbine technology.
Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids.
Recommended for you
