Development of longest wind turbine blades for offshore wind turbines

LM Wind Power, component supplier to the wind industry comprising a blades, brakes and service business, and Alstom, French provider of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure, have entered a strategic partnership to develop the longest wind turbine blade ever produced, designed to fit Alstom’s new 6 MW wind turbine for the growing European offshore wind market.

This means that LM Wind Power, for the third time in a row, pushes the limits for the size of wind turbine blades and further improves the cost efficiency of wind power, not least for offshore wind farms, as the company states.

This groundbreaking blade requires more than 20,000 hours of work by LM Wind Power’s specialist teams which focus especially on aerodynamics, structural design and production processes of this giant. The best in class design is specifically tailored for Alstom’s new 6 MW wind turbine and based on LM Wind Power proprietary profile, developed in its wind tunnel in Denmark. The blade uses advanced materials enabling LM Wind Power to design and manufacture relatively lighter glass fiber and polyester blades for the length.

The prototype blades will be produced in the company’s Danish factory in Lunderskov, currently producing also the LM 61.5P2, and will be ready for installation at Alstom prototype sites in Europe over the winter 2011/12. Future production depends on the end markets that Alstom wishes to address, most likely France, UK and other North Sea markets.