New upgraded, cost-effective 100kW turbine designed to boost efficiency, performance and returns in the UK post-subsidy market
Glasgow, 4th May, 2016 – Medium-scale wind turbine manufacturer Norvento has unveiled a new model of its industry-leading nED100 turbine. This latest, re-engineered unit introduces a number of innovations that will simultaneously increase the efficiency of the machine and reduce its upfront and long-term generation costs.
With its smaller and more compact generator, as well as its lighter, redesigned nacelle and a more efficient 12m blade design, the new 100kW model, officially launched today at the All Energy 2016 conference in Glasgow, will enable landowners and commercial users to maximise financial returns and savings in the post-subsidy UK medium wind market.
The launch of the new turbine comes amidst ongoing reductions to Feed-in Tariff (FiT) support for onshore wind, which, in conjunction with steadily rising retail electricity prices and falling technology and installation costs, are driving a fundamental shift in the way medium wind projects are deployed in the UK.
While opportunities to sell power back to the electricity grid remain, many users are now taking advantage of medium wind to directly support energy intensive on-site operations. In doing so, they are able to benefit from a consistent, low-cost source of generation and hedge against the increasing price of purchasing power from traditional providers. For utilities and commercial users, installing a turbine can also reduce the on-site carbon footprint and help to meet sustainability targets.
In order to make the most of these long-term benefits, the performance, efficiency and reliability of an on-site turbine throughout its operational lifetime is critical. Building on experience and data accumulated over two hundred thousand operational hours served by the first-generation industry-certified nED100 fleet and the latest product of an ongoing multi-million pound R&D process stretching back more than eight years, the new nED100 model has been optimised to maximise performance, whilst minimising costs to the owner.
The new turbine’s direct drive permanent magnet generator is now lighter and more compact, tailored to the operational demands of the UK climate. It maintains the same high performance levels as the original generator, whilst enabling Norvento to use a more traditional nacelle design and a proven direct drive layout, whereby the generator is placed immediately behind the rotor, with a smaller shaft.
In addition, the optional new 12-metre blade design, optimised for Class III low wind conditions, eliminates the extenders that were deployed on the previous 24-metre rotor model and is lighter and more aerodynamic, boosting efficiency by 3%.
Moreover, the design of the nacelle cover and mechanical structure of the pitch actuator makes the entire structure lighter and creates space at the back of the nacelle for maintenance operations. Access to the nacelle is now located within the tower, which reduces risk for technicians and allows for O&M to be carried out during higher wind speeds. In a similar vein, the two control cabinets in the nacelle have been unified to simplify service operations.
These modifications enable Norvento to further increase the efficiency, safety and speed of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, reducing necessary downtime and creating further long-term cost savings.
Combined with many retained features from the proven original nED100 design, such as its IEC-certified drive system, lightning protection, safety and control software and best in class Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) technology, they have helped Norvento further refine a turbine model that was already unmatched for reliability, performance and visual, noise and grid impacts.
“With this new turbine design, we’re not “reinventing the wheel,”‘ said Ivo Arnús, Director of UK Business Development, Norvento.
“nED100 is the product of extensive research into the UK market, and as the medium wind sector continues to evolve, we’re simply putting into practice a number of lessons learnt from our operational experience to refine a proven design. Having reviewed and enhanced our manufacturing process, we’re now able to offer a machine that delivers the same unparalleled performance and efficiency of the existing model at a lower cost.”
“Ultimately this will support the ambitions of energy intensive users and landowners alike by reducing the overall cost of on-site wind energy generation and thereby maximising the considerable financial benefits it continues to create in the UK market. nED100 gives buyers the opportunity to produce their own electricity at a price cheaper than the one sourced from the grid, enabling them to take a large step towards their energy independence.”
The new nED100 model will be ready to order from May 4 with the first deliveries arriving in Q4 2016. Norvento will be extending a promotional offer during these first months until the end of July that will include a £15,000 discount over the already decreased price. A fully equipped nacelle will be on display at All Energy 2016 in Glasgow this week, at stand N40.
For more details about nED100, please visit: www.norvento.com/uk
About Norvento
Headquartered in Spain and with an expanding international footprint, Norvento is a pioneering renewable energy developer, operator and manufacturer.
Capitalising on an already well-established research and development programme, in 2008, the firm began a five-year development programme with the ambition to manufacture and build an entirely new product and service line for the distributed generation market.
Following an extensive testing programme, Norvento launched a 100kW wind turbine unit, now known as nED100, into the UK market in October 2013. It is targeted at key international markets and introduces a fresh phase of successful large-scale wind innovations into medium-scale distributed wind.
The turbine tackles key market inefficiencies and brings big wind benefits to the medium-scale distributed wind space.
In Q4 2016, a new nED100 model will be available to the UK medium wind market, further refining an industry-leading product.
For more information, please visit – www.norvento.com/uk/
