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February 10, 2006

5 MW Wind Turbines Headed Onshore and Off

Hamburg, Germany [RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

One year ago this week, the world's only 5 MW wind turbine began spinning. So far, the data look good, according to REpower, and plans are underway for more deployments.

Further steps planned for this year include two 5Ms to be constructed for E.ON/Essent and the Lower Saxony energy supplier EWE at the DEWI OCC test site in Cuxhaven, where it will be possible to test offshore deployment under favorable wind conditions and obtain comparative data.

The success of a year's worth of operation of the prototype REpower 5M wind turbine in Brunsbuettel is documented with an average availability of 95.1 percent. Measured and certified performance values since operation have exceeded those calculated by the company during the development phase.

Despite extensive surveying, inspections and numerous visitors from commerce, politics and science (together with safety-related shutdowns), the prototype, with a tower height 120 meters to the hub, rotor diameter at 126 meters, rated power at 5,000 kW, has supplied around 13 million kilowatt hours (kWh) to the public grid to date.

Further steps planned for this year include two 5Ms to be constructed for E.ON/Essent and the Lower Saxony energy supplier EWE at the DEWI OCC test site in Cuxhaven, where it will be possible to test offshore deployment under favorable wind conditions and obtain comparative data.

In the summer, the 5M is likely going offshore: Two turbines will be assembled at a depth of 44 meters, 25 kilometers from the Scottish coast in the Moray Firth.

For REpower, this demonstrator project marks an important milestone in the development of the offshore market and the future competitiveness of wind energy in general, the release claims.
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Reader Comments (9)
 
No image available
February 10, 2006
If only the US would put its money where its mouth is and act accordingly. What is our government doing other than implementing an inadequate energy bill that has no teeth in it. Why don't our government policies more directly support renewable energy as laws do in Germany? Are we going to be last in wind energy as we are on signing the Kyoto agreement? What is clouding the vision of our leaders?

We need concrete implementation and not just talk. The words are beginning to sound like echos without meaning. Colbert on his TV program says "USA, USA" and tells us we are winners. Well, what about it?

adrianakau@aol.com
Comment 1 of 9
No image available
February 10, 2006
Richard, Availability is different from Capacity. Availability refers to the percentage of time during which favourable winds are occurring to allow machine operation that the machine is available for generating power.
What you describe is capacity factor or the percentage of theroretical maximum energy generation that the machine actually generated.
Comment 2 of 9
February 10, 2006
If the 5MW wind turbine has a 92% availability. Then It should generate 5000x8760x0.92 kilowatt hours in that year.
That is 40.2 million kilowatt hours NOT 13 million kilowatt hours.
13 million kwh implies availability of 29.7 %. This is much better than solar arrays but not 92% availability.
Comment 3 of 9
No image available
February 11, 2006
what ever for Problems are,we have to go to renewable Enerysystems based on lokal Situations and Possibilitis to come down in global worming and to got Energy for economic growt.Indonesia need not old Technologys and so i like to say thanks for helpfull Informations as economical-ecological Project-Development Consultant in Indonesia
Thanks
Dipl.Ing.Peter H.mau
Comment 4 of 9
No image available
February 15, 2006
I am interested to learn what is the typical tip speed of the 5MW machine described above. Also, I am interested in learning methods of obtaining Ammonia storage from Wind Energy as a cheap safe method of storing Hydrogen in a small space. If any one can assist me in these areas, please, E-mail me at solaraccess@msn.com
Comment 5 of 9
No image available
February 15, 2006
If North America wants to follow suit on large scale wind power farms, then address the real issues that are impeding the process: "not-in-my-backyard" activists, certain animal rights activists who don't want to harm animals, environmentalists who insist that any new generation capability is bad (they want forced reduction in demand) and the lawyers that bring on the lawsuits stopping any building.

Take care of these and give good tax breaks, and watch what market forces will do.
Comment 6 of 9
No image available
February 15, 2006
I echo the fear that North America is again missing the boat. We missed it on efficient cars and paid a stiff price during the 70s oil shocks and are paying again, today.

Today, we are missing the boat on BOTH efficiency AND renewable energy. North Americans are happy to talk about love of the environment, but not to sacrifice to protect it. Ironically, people who are unwilling to make private sacrifices will support huge govt spending to protect economic and territorial security. Therefore, we must focus on security arguments. First, being less efficient makes our economies disproportionately vulnerable to rising energy costs. Moreover, the resulting reliance on foreign oil makes us vulnerable from a national security perspective.

Of course, the long term economic and security consequences of environmental devastation are much greater, but North Americans seem unwilling or unable to think about them, let alone accept that they are real.

Scott M, Toronto
Comment 7 of 9
No image available
March 20, 2008
My project I want to start is a 5MW turbine in "my backjard". We would buy the wind turbine with the entire village and we would be able to sell the rest of the energy to the the company's how buy Green Energy. I hope to start on the full analysis of the project by a specialist company later this year.
Comment 8 of 9
No image available
March 20, 2008

I'm from Belguim and what you say about North America is All true, But Belguim is even worst. I'm from Belguim and if we in Belguim Would build an offshore windfarm on 2 of our sand"benches" we would be able to consist for the next 40years on renewable energy. Every home in Belguim would be heated on electricity and we would be the country tath would be safe for the next 40years from the Kyoto treaty. We don't do the Because our stupid prime minister has dun 208days to form a gouverment and oops the forgot to agree on this. These 40years are based on todays technologie and no further advancement to the efficienty of the heating products.


Comment 9 of 9
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