Vestas, the global leader in wind energy, announced an upgraded range of 2 MW GridStreamer™ turbines that provides significantly higher energy production, integral grid compliance and a competitive cost of energy for the North American market.
Performance gains for the latest 2 MW turbine are achieved by its more efficient, upgraded drivetrain, improved load management system and full scale converter-based power system. It offers a high capacity factor, reaching rated power of 2.0 MW with a 90-meter rotor in areas with high wind speeds, and with a 100-meter rotor in low- to moderate-wind sites. The turbine is certified to the latest IEC standards.
“The 2 MW GridStreamer™ turbines will allow our customers to use a fleet of efficient and fully grid-compliant turbines for optimal performance across all wind classes and site conditions,”said Martha Wyrsch, President of Vestas-American Wind Technology, Inc. “Its proven track record, manufacturing quality and available energy-based service agreements ensure the best business case certainty for the 2 MW platform.”
The gearbox design and enhanced control systems allow placement of turbines with larger rotor diameters in locations with higher wind speeds. The V100-2.0 MW turbine, for example, can produce about 15 percent more energy from an IEC II site — with an average wind speed of 8 meters per second — than the V90-1.8 MW. The gearbox includes integrated torque arms and a fully integrated lubrication unit with fewer components for reduced service complexity and cost.
Every 2 MW GridStreamer™ turbine incorporates a permanent magnet generator that optimizes power generation by enabling the widest possible rotational speed range. Energy costs are further decreased through lower foundation, erection and grid connection costs, including the elimination of substation costs through full-grid compliance at the turbine level. Among other improvements, maintenance and repairs can be performed up-tower at significantly lower cost and with greater safety and ease, due to an updated nacelle design. Adding to their flexibility in being used at new wind-turbine sites, the upgraded turbines have been certified for high-altitude locations.
The 2 MW platform is Vestas’ most experienced family of wind turbines, with more than 7,800 units installed worldwide since 1998. The latest 2 MW GridStreamer™ is built on knowledge gained through extensive operation of this tried-and-tested platform, as well as design advances across the entire Vestas range and operational data gathered from more than 43,000 turbines operating globally.
Marketing of the upgraded 2 MW GridStreamer turbine will commence now. The first turbine installations and serial delivery are expected to begin in 2012.