GE has increased the output from its 2.5 MW wind turbine by boosting the rotor diameter by 12 m as part of a series of modifications aimed at the offshore wind market.
The so-called 2.5xl turbine has a 100m rotor diameter and is the largest available for onshore applications, the company says. It produces 5% more power than the standard version, pushing capacity to more than 2.6 MW, and has a 12% greater annual energy yield. It also has the capability to operate at sites with average wind speeds of up to 8.5 meters per second.
A test machine, which has been operating at Wieringermeer in the Netherlands since 2004, was upgraded in August of 2006 with the larger rotor and other modifications.
The 2.5xl will be manufactured at GE’s Salzbergen facilities in Germany, with key markets expected to be Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom.
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