A preliminary investigation into the failure of two blades on a high-powered Mingyang turbine has found “extreme, abnormal” conditions led to the incident, according to the Chinese manufacturer.
The company said the conditions caused the blades at the Lingao test facility “to exceed the design load limit value and thus become damaged and fractured”.
“However, the entire machine and system remained intact and complied with industry-standard safety design requirements,” it added.
“In the process of innovative research and development, conducting this type of extreme testing and experimentation on prototypes is necessary.
“We will continue to conduct further in-depth research on the product’s adaptability under these low-probability conditions, to refine the functionality of the new model, ensuring that the product performance is superior, safer, and more reliable.
“Mingyang will continue to commit to driving breakthroughs in wind energy technology and contribute to the future development of global renewable energy, which aligns with our mission to innovate clean energy for all.”
The statement follows images in the Chinese press which show a machine with two heavily damaged blades.
Mingyang has not confirmed if the affected turbine is the MySE18X-20MW offshore model.
However, an analysis of official images appears to confirm the flagship unit is the one that has been damaged.
Widespread reporting in China has also claimed the affected blades are those of the MySE18X-20MW.
“Currently, the product is still in the testing phase and has not yet been marketed or mass-produced. The situation did not cause any harm to personnel at the test site,” added Mingyang.
The MySE18X-20MW model has a rotor diameter of 260-292 metres, and was installed onshore near the coast in August.
According to Mingyang, at an average wind speed of 8.5 metres per second the turbine can generate 80m kWh annually.