The 525 kW Windturbine

• The Folkecenter for Renewable Energy designed a 525 kW stall-regulated wind turbine which was erected in September 1992 in Hanstholm, a favourable North Sea coastal site. The project is a partially funded by the EC.

• From the beginning the windturbine has performed satisfactorily, for example, from October till December 1992 this prototype produced 320.000 kWh. Annual production will be 1.3 million kWh, corresponding to the consumption of 350 households.

• The main features of this simplified innovative design are: rigid hub, three blade rotor using 17m LM blades with tip brakes, integrated compact gearbox, one speed 400 V induction generator. Two negative calipers provide braking. The yaw system comprises of two planetary gear units hydraulically powered and yaw brakes.

• A new thyristor system allows, not only a soft cut-in to the grid, but a better generator efficiency at low loads through the control of the generator voltage.

• The 525 kW wind turbine belongs to the DANmark series, the result of more then ten years of continuous innovation and development, resulting in a series of advanced and reliable wind turbines ranging from 20 to 525 kW. A total of 160 units have been produced by various manufacturers.

• Meteorological, electrical and mechanical data are primarily collected in a comprehensive measurement programme. A total number of 32 sensors and transducers are installed. Special attention is given to mechanical load measurements: strain gauges are mounted on the blades, the main and secondary shafts, the two yaw motor shafts, the tower, etc.

• The first page shows the wind turbine situated near the harbour of Hanstholm, on the beach (on-shore) in an area with high wind speeds. Because of the siting, the experiences of the Folkecenter windturbine will be very useful to the future development of off-shore wind turbines.

• Comments from the general public concerning the siting in the coastal landscape are only positive.