Unit capacities for offshore wind turbines may reach 7.5 MW
with the development of a new generation of “superturbines” by California-based wind turbine manufacturer Clipper Windpower.
Clipper has announced that it will develop and test a new 7.5 MW offshore unit at a new Centre of Excellence for Offshore Wind in Blyth, UK, enabling it to address the growing demand for reliable and efficient offshore wind energy technology, says Clipper.
Clipper will use the test facilities of the Blyth-based New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) at Blyth for the development project – known as “Britannia”. The 7.5 MW unit will be the largest of its kind in the world and will be based on Clipper’s proven Liberty 2.5 MW turbine.
NaREC will support the Britannia project with and engineering package, which includes the use of its world-class wind turbine blade testing facilities. Engineering for the project will be shared between Clipper’s Advanced Technology Group, based in Carpinteria, California, and Clipper operations in Blyth.
The Britannia project has attracted funding from the UK’s One Northeast Regional Development Agency. The UK is one of the world’s most attractive markets for wind energy development, according to Ernst & Young data.