UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Chinese wind power turbine manufacturer Windey has successfully connected the ‘world’s first’ 1,800 volt wind turbine to the grid at the Zhangbei wind farm in China’s Gobi Desert.
Currently, most onshore wind turbines output electricity at 660 volts. As turbines grow larger, they face mounting challenges in cable power losses, maintenance and electrical system complexity.
Windey claims the 10 MW capacity turbine design cuts the cable cross-sectional area by 30%, reduces installation complexity and boosts electrical efficiency by 20%. These upgrades are expected to reduce the levelised cost of energy of a 10 MW-capacity turbine by up to 5% over the turbine’s lifetime.
Early performance data shows the 10.X-1,800 volt model delivers a 1% increase in annual energy output – a significant gain in utility-scale wind farms.
Ultra-large turbines often suffer from operational challenges like cable twist and rotor overheating. According to Windey, this system uses advanced simulations, component redesigns and has undergone rigorous fatigue testing to eliminate these risks. Field tests have found zero downtime under extreme conditions, it said.
