Vestas Wind Systems A/S (Vestas) has unveiled a new turbine, V60-850 kilowatt (kW), tailored for China. The new features of the V60-850 kW include innovations in blade design and temperature control systems. The V60-850 kW is built on tried and tested technology that Vestas is constantly improving. The V60-850 kW was designed by Vestas’ global research and development team he turbine will be built in Vestas’ new factory in Hohhot, Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region (IMAR).
The new Hohhot factory will produce the V60-850 kW blades and nacelles in a production area of about 45,000 meters. Construction on the factory started in July 2008. Hohhot was chosen as the location for this facility because of its proximity to the key wind energy sites in northeast China and the developing wind energy market in IMAR.
The V60-850 kW is built for optimized production and performance and featuring new innovations developed to make the turbine highly suitable for Chinese wind and weather conditions.
The V60-850 kW is almost entirely sourced in China; over 90% of the machine’s components are Chinese-made, which is the result of the development of win-win partnerships with Vestas’ new and existing suppliers.
The V60-850 kW’s agile design and versatile features open the door to untapped and hard-to-reach wind sites across the nation. The V60-850 kW turbine thus has the potential to provide a catalyst for further wind energy development providing the benefits of wind energy to an even larger population in line with the Chinese government’s energy strategy and goals.
“The V60-850 kW turbine is a ground-breaking new product for China, and is the first time Vestas has customized a turbine for a single specific market,” said Vestas Chief Executive Officer Ditlev Engel. “China, as a future global wind energy superpower, is one the most important markets for us. As a committed partner that has been engaged in China’s wind energy industry for over 20 years, the development and introduction of the V60 represents the beginning of a new stage in Vestas’ development in China that will see us play a larger role in contributing to the development of China’s overall wind energy industry by building a long-term China-based innovation capacity and establishing a bigger technology presence here.”
Vestas China President Lars Andersen emphasized that customers played a critical role in the development of the V60-850 kW. “Our best customers told us they wanted a kilowatt turbine that could unlock the potential of low and medium wind sites and overcome obstacles, like the tough winters in Northern Chinese areas such as IMAR. In collaboration with our Chinese partners, we designed Vestas’ most advanced and productive kW turbine, and then localized it and built a factory to produce it — close to some of China’s richest low and medium wind resources.”
Vestas has also benefited from the strong wind energy vision and support of the governments of IMAR and Hohhot. Lu Ming, vice president of Vestas China and general manager of the new Hohhot factory, paid tribute to the Vestas team that went from design to prototype manufacturing in just 12 months. “We have very talented teams working on technology and supply chain development; they continuously set new standards at Vestas for speed, teamwork and dedication. The development of the V60-850 kW was critical in establishing a China-based technology team to support on-going local innovation and adaptation of both this turbine, as well as other turbine platforms in China. The team will continue to contribute to the ongoing development of the Chinese wind energy industry and the continued localization of Vestas China. “