Size Counts for Wind Power's Potential as a Major Grid Contributor

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources Incorporated; Houston, Texas). When a new industry or technology begins to make statements about delivering 'economies of scale' it can be taken that enough participants see that the positive cash flow prospects are showing signs of real vigor, as the opportunities for bigger and better applications of the technology are beginning to blossom.

Wind energy is now moving into a major 'economy of scale' phase, and although, this can be seen across the range of power output available from wind turbine units on the market matched to appropriate uses, it is most evident and significant in the size and power output of single turbine units at the top end of the scale now being deployed and developed. When we are told that a 5 MW turbine is now in the pipeline it not only allows the power system engineers to scribble interesting calculations on the back of their laptops, but it also gives us the feeling that we are seeing The SuperChief or The Flying Scotsman of the industry flailing down towards us in the best traditions of 'progress' contained in pre-virtual boys real adventure annuals.

REpower, in Brunsbuettel near Hamburg in Germany, has announced the specifications for the prototype of a 5 MW wind turbine that will be erected onshore in early 2004. Plans are being drawn up to erect other turbines at additional onshore test sites in preparation for a rapid market launch in 2004.

The 5 MW turbine will have a rotor diameter of 126.5 meters. The company claims the wind turbine blade, built in cooperation with the Danish company LM Glasfiber, is the longest in the world and will have a hub height of 120 meters.

The technical design of the turbine, which has been developed primarily for offshore applications, is based on the company's MD and MM series. The unit has a modular drive train with a double bearing on the main shaft and a combined planetary/spur gearing that has been optimized for the turbines intended application.

"Offshore windpower has the unlimited support of all political forces in Germany. Ambitious offshore technology is the only realistic means of achieving the government's goal of generating 12.5% of energy consumption from renewable energies in 2010," said Fritz Vahrenholt, the REpower chief executive.

SolarAccess reports that REpower is introducing a 12-year full service maintenance package that covers all maintenance and repair work for turbines and guarantees operators 97% availability in the first five years, and 96% thereafter.

As previously reported by industrialinfo.com, a German wind industry leader, Enercon is building and installing its E-112, 4.5 MW unit in Magdeburg and then a second unit in Wilhelmshaven. The firm plans to launch an offshore E-112 prototype next year and complete the serial production of 10 machines in 2004. A company spokesman said although the E-112 is intended for offshore use they will see if there is also a market for onshore operation.

The growth of German offshore wind energy depends on investments not only in cables running out to sea, but also in enlarging the capacity of the onshore grid in northern Germany, reports Planet Ark. Four nuclear power plants, with a combined capacity of 4,000 MW, will be closed in the country's northern region as part of the national plan to phase out all nuclear sourced energy by 2020.

Enercon claims to have covered 28.5 percent of the world's new wind energy capacity in 2002, including its German base market and exports to 19 countries.

Also blowing hard in the big league is Denmark's NEG Micron has just announced that it will erect the country's largest wind turbine at the Riso National Laboratory's offshore test site at Hovsore. The NM 110 turbine prototype will have a capacity of 4.2 MW. If it passes tests the unit will be released for series production within the year.

The size of windfarm projects is also increasing with a 310 MW project in Iowa (PEC 29000790) and a 520 MW cluster planned off Wicklow in Ireland (PEC 80300048). Some of the biggest names in wind turbines such as GE and Denmark's Vestas are also looking at the technology relative to economies of scale and they will be encouraged by the power planners and policy makers who are chasing renewable and sustainable targets. 80 x 5 MW gets you a 400 MW facility making a very significant and sustainable grid contribution.

Currently, Europe is leading the industry's wind of change with around 25,000 MW installed. At the end of 2002, the U.S. had 4,600 MW of installed windpower with new projects coming thick and fast.