Nordex is entering the 4 MW wind turbine class with the introduction of the N149/4.0-4.5 turbine, which has been designed specifically for light-wind regions.
According to Nordex, the new turbine, part of the Delta4000 series, is currently the highest-yielding onshore turbine for light-wind regions in the class of 4.0-4.5 MW, the German turbine manufacturer claims. Moreover, the N149/4.0-4.5 offers a 28% increase in energy yield over the N131/3600.
The N149/4.0-4.5 can meet a wide range of site-specific requirements with one hardware version. Because the maximum output of the turbine varies between 4.0 MW and 4.5 MW, it is ideal for adapting to the grid operator’s individual requirements, local wind conditions and noise restraints, especially in large-scale projects that have varied wind conditions and complex topography.
In comparison to the N131, the new turbine’s rotor diameter has been increased by 18 meters. However, Nordex has kept the same one-piece rotor blade structure but optimized the design for transport and production. For instance, the main girders of the rotor blade are made of carbon fiber, which was introduced in 2010 for the N117/2400 and has been used for the N131 since 2014. The rotor blade structure was developed, in part, by SSP, a Danish manufacturer that was recently taken over by the Nordex Group.
The maximum sound power level of the N149/4.0-4.5 lies between 103.6 dB(A) and 106.1 dB(A), making it currently the quietest turbine in the 4.0-4.5 MW class for light-wind sites, Nordex claims. In addition, at sites with lower permissible noise requirements, the turbine can operate in a large number of sound-optimizing modes. These can be individually controlled on the basis of wind direction, time of day, outside temperature or local public holidays in order to keep the acoustic load as low as possible and meet legislative requirements, says Nordex.
The towers initially available include those with hub heights of 105 to 164 meters. Nordex is also offering a cold-climate variant and a rotor blade anti-icing system.
The turbine is designed for an operational lifetime of 20 years, though, depending on local site conditions of the wind farm, it may also reach 25 years.
In developing the N149/4.0-4.5, the company says it made use of technology from both the Nordex and Acciona Windpower platforms. For instance, in future, the merged company will use a single common gearbox manufacturer for the N149/4.0-4.5.
The Nordex Group plans to start series production of the N149/4.0-4.5 in 2019. The first test turbines will be set up in 2018 in order to determine the parameters of relevance for certification.
Generation Delta currently includes the following turbine types: N100/3300, N117/3000, N117/3600, N131/3000, N131/3300, N131/3600, N131/3900 and the new N149/4.0-4.5 in the Delta4000 series.
