Vestas installs next generation low wind turbine prototype

Vestas has installed the first V110-2.0 MW prototype turbine at a test site in Høvsøre, on the west coast of Jutland, Denmark. The turbine has produced the first kilowatt hour of electricity and will undergo an extensive test and verification programme to ensure reliability before full scale production commences prior to the first deliveries at the end of the year.

The V110-2.0 MW is built from the proven technology of Vestas’ 2 MW platform and features a larger rotor using 55m blades. The turbine is optimised for production on low wind sites, and increases annual energy production by up to 13.6% compared to the V100-1.8 MW on low wind sites.

“Vestas’ product development strategy is to optimise our products and services to continue to lower the cost of energy for customers,” says CTO Anders Vedel. “The V110-2.0 MW is an extremely competitive product for maximising energy production at low wind speeds, and over 400 turbines sold demonstrate customers are responding positively to Vestas’ strategy.”

Chris Brown, President of Vestas’ sales and service division in the United States and Canada adds, “The turbine has been very well received by the market since being launched in 2013, particularly in the United States, with firm orders approaching 800 MW.”  

Innovative improvements in technology

In order to continue to optimise the technology while maintaining high quality and reliability of the 2MW platform customers have come to expect, some innovative improvements have been made to several parts of the turbine. 

In addition to the larger rotor, the V110-2.0 MW (and the V100-2.0 MW- also launched in 2013) has a strengthened gearbox compared to previous 2 MW turbines, to withstand the increase force from the wind on the larger rotor. Furthermore new control features have enabled strengthening of the hub and other parts of the structure without increasing the overall weight.