Rated 1.5MW, the GW93/1500 ultra-low wind speed permanent magnet direct-drive (PMDD) is designed for wind resource areas where the annual average wind speed is lower than 6.5 m/s. The rotor diameter of 93 metres is the largest among comparable products in China, Goldwind said, while it boasts the “highest generation efficiency”.
According to Goldwind, the series can generate power of more than 2,000 standard hours per year based on an annual average wind speed of 5.5 m/s. The product will be officially launched in Xi’an, Shan Xi on April 20 and the company plans to install its first prototype in Zhucheng, Shandong at the end of this month.
The turbine uses a permanent magnet generator and a full-power converter with “grid friendly” properties. The turbine meets national grid connection requirements and meets zero voltage ride-through standards.
“The [Goldwind] group’s latest R&D achievement leverages its well-established 1.5MW PMDD turbine platform as the foundation for a new series with power generation efficiency that is among the highest in the industry,” said Goldwind in a statement.
“Ultra-low” wind speed areas have annual average wind speeds of 5.5 m/s to 6.5 m/s.
Goldwind is the latest turbine developer to tap into the low wind speed turbine market, which is growing rapidly, as high wind speed sites, particularly in Europe, are set to become increasingly scarce, and developers look to exploit low wind speed sites close to highly populated areas.
Last week Spanish manufacturer Gamesa launched a 2MW model which it said it plans to market in India, Brazil and China.
Goldwind has worked to develop customised wind turbine series to accommodate diverse operating environments. In addition to the ultra-low wind speed series, Goldwind offers low wind speed, high altitude, low temperature, high temperature, offshore and tidal PMDD series.
These series have been deployed in several projects overseas including a high altitude project in Ecuador, a low wind-speed project in Chile, a high temperature project in Pakistan and a low temperature project in Minnesota, USA.