Alstom upgrades its 3 MW ECO 100 onshore wind turbine platform
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Capacity factor increase of between 8-15 % across the wind classes
Global leader in power generation equipment and services, Alstom, today announced the upgrade of its 3MW onshore ECO 100 platform.
Alstoms robust ECO 100 wind turbine platform, comprising the ECO 100 and ECO 110 turbines, is among the most proven multi-megawatt platforms in the marketplace with over 150,000 cumulative operating hours since 2008, and more than 300 MW installed or under construction. Both the ECO 100 and ECO 110 wind turbines are fully type certified.
To maximize available wind resources and further reduce wind powers cost of energy Alstom is upgrading both existing turbines of the platform and will also introduce a new machine to specifically address low wind speed sites across the globe.
The ECO 100 turbine, currently positioned for medium to high wind sites, is being upgraded to a high wind (IEC Class I-A) turbine that will have one of the leading capacity factors for turbines in this wind class. The ECO 110 turbine, currently suitable for Class III sites, is being upgraded to a medium wind (IEC Class II-A) turbine. Its 110-meter rotor diameter is one of the largest available for class II sites and maximizes the energy yield of the turbine. Longer blades capture more power more effectively. This means fewer turbines, and less land space, are required to generate the same amount of power. It can be thought of as more megawatts generated per square meter of land.
Hub heights of the platform are 75 m, 90 m, and 100 m, with higher towers planned for 2012. Both turbines are being offered now for deliveries from mid-2012.
Alstom will complete the range with a new high capacity factor low wind (IEC Class III-A) turbine, the ECO 11X, with a larger rotor diameter. The exact rotor diameter, in the range of 115-125m, will be released in the second half of 2011. At that time this turbine will be offered for deliveries starting in 2013.
Alfonso Faubel, Alstom Powers Wind business Vice President, said: Energy yield is the biggest lever we have to increase value for our customers. Our ongoing investment in this new generation of powerful and reliable wind turbines further improves yield in all wind conditions by delivering a capacity factor increase of between 8-15% across the various wind classes.
Alstoms wind turbines are based upon the unique and proven ALSTOM PURE TORQUE rotor support concept that protects the drive train, ensuring higher reliability and lower maintenance costs. Only turning force, or torque, is transmitted through the drive train, while unwanted stresses from the wind are diverted safely to the turbines tower. While most conventional rotor support concepts tend to turn drive train components such as gearboxes into consumables, Alstom is confident that the majority of its wind turbines could operate with their original drive train for their whole design lifetime.
The very first ECO 100, installed in El Perelló, Tarragona, Spain in 2008 has accumulated close to 3 years of successful operational experience in a very windy and turbulent site. The first commercial ECO 100 wind farm, Le Vieux Moulin (6xECO 100), was inaugurated in October 2009 in France. The 1st ECO 110 unit was installed in November 2009 at the Loma Viso II wind farm, Albacete, Spain. The platform has accumulated more than 150,000 operating hours since 2008, with more than 300 MW installed or under construction.
Press contacts
Nathan McConnell (Alstom Power) Tel: +41 56 205 40 32 nathan.mcconnell@power.alstom.com