Danish wind energy company Vestas introduced the V136-4.2MW Extreme Climate wind turbine.
The new turbine is built directly from Vestas’ V136-4.2 MW model, with reinforced blades and a strengthened hub. Vestas tested the model and found it was capable of withstanding wind speeds of up to 78 m/s. The turbine has also been designed to withstand by-products of extreme weather, such as lightning bolts from typhoons.
The Extreme Climate turbine has been designed for project sites in Japan and the rest of Asia, but Vestas says it is also applicable for other markets such as the Caribbean and the UK.
Production is expected to commence in mid-2021, with the turbines ready to be delivered later that year.
Vestas vice president of product strategy Thomas Korzeniewski said: “With the introduction of V136-4.2 MW Extreme Climate, Vestas is connecting our proven technology with customised solutions to help customers unlock low to medium wind sites with high turbulence.
“The larger rotor delivers improved energy production, with the strength and versatility necessary to handle extreme wind gusts and high turbulence.”
Vestas president of Asia Pacific Clive Turton added: “Vestas’ global experience and wide range of industry-leading offerings mean we can offer customised sustainable energy solutions to meet the needs of specific markets like Japan.
“We are building on the reliability of Vestas’ 4MW platform to broaden its applicability for diverse and challenging wind and weather conditions.”
According to a recent study by Bloomberg NEF, Vestas is the leading wind energy company in the world, with 10.1GW of installations in 2018.