Nordex Enters the 4 MW Wind Class
S. Himmelstein | September 03, 2017Source: Nordex
Nordex is entering the 4 MW wind turbine class with the introduction of the N149/4.0-4.5 turbine, designed specifically for light-wind regions.
The new turbine, part of the Delta4000 series, is currently the highest-yielding onshore turbine for light-wind regions in the 4.0-4.5 MW class. A maximum sound power level in the 103.6—106.1 dB(A) range also makes the N149/4.0-4.5 the quietest turbine in this class. At sites with lower permissible noise requirements, the turbine can operate in a large number of sound-optimizing modes.
The N149/4.0-4.5 turbine features a 30 percent increase in rotor sweep and a 28 percent increase in energy yield over the N131/3600 turbine. The new turbine’s rotor diameter has been increased by 18 meters relative to the N131. The company has retained the same one-piece rotor blade structure but optimized the design for transport and production. For instance, the main girders of the rotor blade are made of carbon fiber, which was introduced in 2010 for the N117/2400 and has been used for the N131 since 2014. The rotor blade structure was developed, in part, by SSP, a Danish manufacturer recently acquired by Nordex and specializing in longer rotor blades.
The towers initially available include those with hub heights of 105 to 164 meters. Nordex is also offering a cold-climate variant and a rotor blade anti-icing system.
The turbine is designed for an operational lifetime of 20 years, and depending on local site conditions of the wind farm, it may also reach 25 years.