For the first time, Vestas Wind Systems’ prototype V236-15.0 MW wind turbine has produced energy. The prototype has been installed at the Østerild National test centre in Denmark, and it will now undergo an extensive testing and verification program to ensure reliability before it can be fully certified and put into production.
The prototype development and assembly work took place at Vestas’ research and development and production sites in Denmark. The blades were developed at the company’s blade factory in Lem and manufactured at its offshore blade factory in Nakskov. The prototype nacelle was developed and assembled at the offshore nacelle factory in Lindø port of Odense, and the generator, converter, and grid system integration were tested at the LORC facility in Denmark.
With a swept area of over 43,000 m2, the V236-15.0 MW delivers industry-leading performance and has the potential to generate around 80 GWh/year, enough to power around 20,000 European households and displace more than 38,000 tonnes of CO2 every year.
The V236-15.0 MW is designed to deliver excellent performance while reducing the number of turbines at a wind park, strengthening the project business case. It offers 65 percent higher annual energy production than the V174-9.5 MW model, and for a 900 MW wind park, it increases production by five percent with 34 fewer turbines. It also offers excellent partial-load production, resulting in a more stable energy production, and a capacity factor over 60 percent depending on site-specific conditions.
Launched in February 2021, Vestas has already announced preferred supplier agreements for the V236-15.0 MW turbine for a total of more than 8 GW in five different markets.
“This is a great step forward in our ambition to accelerate the green energy transition and it is a major milestone for Vestas and our partners,” said Anders Nielsen, Vestas Chief Technology Officer. “With this wind turbine, we set new standards for technological innovation, industrialisation, and scale across renewable energy to create a sustainable offshore wind industry.”
