Vestas has launched a turbine within its 4MW platform that is suitable for wind farms in regions with extreme climate conditions.
Serial production of the V136-4.2MW Extreme Climate model is expected by mid-2021 and delivery later that year.
Vestas is introducing the latest iteration at the 2019 Japan Wind Expo, which runs until 1 March, to highlight the turbine’s suitability for many project sites exposed to severe climate in parts of the Asia-Pacific, including Japan.
The company says the V136-4.2MW Extreme Climate turbine offers maximum energy production in low to medium wind speeds, while being designed to handle extreme weather conditions that have previously been challenging to exploit in both on and offshore sites.
The new variant is also applicable for other markets with similar conditions around the world, such as southern China, the Caribbean and the UK.
Building directly on the V136-4.2MW turbine, the Extreme Climate turbine also features a reinforced blade and a strengthened hub.
The new model is able to withstand extreme wind speeds of 53 metres a second (m/s), exceeding IEC class I extreme wind speed, and extreme wind gusts of up to 74-78 m/s.
The turbine is also designed to withstand above-average frequency events and intensity of lightning strikes associated with typhoons, such as those seen in Japan.
The V136-4.2MW Extreme Climate machine is also suitable for areas with low grid capacity, as it deploys a full-scale converter that offers active and reactive power capabilities.
Vestas Asia Pacific president Clive Turton said: “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.”