Product Pick of the Week – The Vestas 2.0 MW GridStreamer™ Wind Turbine Range

As a special service to our readers, the www.windfair.net press team takes a closer look at the new GridStreamer™ wind turbine product range launched at this week’s American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) trade fair in California, USA by Vestas.

New version of Vestas’ most popular wind turbine family incorporates full grid compliance, an upgraded gearbox, and larger rotors. This results in increased energy production of up to 15 per cent.

“With the introduction of a more powerful and versatile 2 MW GridStreamerTM range, wind farm customers can deploy a modular fleet of efficient and fully grid compliant 2 MW wind turbines for optimal performance across all wind classes and wind farm site conditions,” Senior Vice President for the 2 MW platform, Claus Stegmann Strøeh, says about the major release.

Technical Specifications of each Gridstreamer Wind Turbine:

General Specifications: All Vestas 2.0 MW Gridstreamer wind turbines’ have the following:
- Power regulation: pitch regulated with variable speed
- Generator type: permanent magnet generator
- Converter: full scale converter
- Air brake: Full blade feathering with three-pitch cylinders
- Electrical: Frequency: 50 Hz/60 Hz
- Gearbox Type: one planetary stage and two helical stages
- Operating temperature range: standard turbine -20°C to 40°C, low temperature turbine -30°C to 40°C
- Wind class: IEC IA

1) The V80-2.0 MW GridStreamer™ Wind Turbine:
The V80-2.0 MW GridStreamer™ turbine, which is ideal for high-wind sites, is an evolution of the V80-2.0 MW turbine and earlier trusted models. It is designed to deliver the highest levels of reliability, i.e. minimal operational downtime and a better return on investment. Different markets and project sites have different grid requirements. The V80-2.0 MW GridStreamer™ turbine is built to ensure maximum grid compliance even in the most demanding of environments. This is achieved by incorporating a full scale converter working in tandem with a permanent magnet generator.

Operational data:
- Rated power: 2,000 kW
- Cut-in wind speed: 3.5 m/s
- Rated wind speed: 14.5 m/s
- Cut-out wind speed: 25 m/s

Rotor:
- Rotor diameter: 80 m
- Swept area: 5,027 m2
- Nominal revolutions: 16.7 rpm

(2) V90-2.0 MW GridStreamer™ (IEC IA) Wind Turbine:
The V90-2.0 MW GridStreamer™ (IEC IA) is a turbine conceived, built and optimised for the demands of the modern energy market. Its state-of-the-art gearbox, next-generation load management system and full scale converter-based power system provide greater energy production, superior grid compliance – maximising return on investment. Although Vestas’ technology is cutting-edge, the Vestas 2 MW platform is the industry’s most proven turbine family within the 2 MW category, with more than 7,800 installations worldwide. This means high reliability, low operational downtime and high performance. The V90-2.0 MW GridStreamer™ (IEC IA) is a low-risk choice for harnessing the financial potential of the wind.

Operational data:
- Rated power: 2,000 kW
- Cut-in wind speed: 4 m/s
- Rated wind speed: 13.5 m/s
- Cut-out wind speed: 25 m/s

Rotor:
- Rotor diameter: 90 m
- Swept area: 6,362 m2
- Nominal revolutions: 16.9 rpm

(3) V100-2.0 MW GridStreamer™ (IEC IIA):
With a market-leading track record, best-ever performance, improved grid compliance and the possibility of energy-based service agreements, the new V100-2.0 MW GridStreamer™ (IEC IIA) turbine is in a class of its own – ensuring the best business case certainty for Vestas’ customers.

Operational data:
- Rated power: 2,000 kW
- Cut-in wind speed: 3 m/s
- Rated wind speed: 12.5 m/s
- Cut-out wind speed: 20 m/s

Rotor
- Rotor diameter: 100 m
- Swept area: 7,854 m2
- Nominal revolutions: 14.9 rpm

Featuring an improved gearbox and larger rotors, the upgraded 2 MW platform substantially surpasses its predecessors in terms of wind power output. At a typical IEC I site (high wind), the new V90-2.0 MW GridStreamerTM provides approximately 10 per cent more energy output than the V80-2.0 MW. On an IEC II site (medium wind), the new V100-2.0 MW GridStreamerTM produces up to 15 per cent more energy compared to a V90-1.8 MW.

With more than 7,800 wind turbines installed worldwide since 1998, the 2 MW platform is Vestas’ most popular family of wind turbines. The upgraded 2 MW GridStreamerTM models are built on the knowledge gained through the operation of this tried and tested platform, as well as data gathered from more than 43,000 wind turbines in operation globally.

For instance, Vestas Performance and Diagnostics Centre has analysed the performance of the various gearbox designs used in the 2 MW fleet and identified the most reliable gear and bearing solutions.

“By implementing these solutions as well as optimising the entire gearbox design, we have significantly improved the gearbox performance and reliability of the new wind turbines, thereby reducing the cost of energy for our customers,” explains Stegmann Strøeh.

The upgraded 2 MW platform is planned for global release and will initially be marketed in the North American, Northern European, and Mediterranean regions. Central Europe will follow later this year.

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