Product Pick of the Week - Chinese CSIC to launch turbine with 75-metre blades

The company is planning to install a prototype of its 5MW offshore turbine at the Rudong demonstration offshore wind farm, in east China’s Jiangsu province. It will be connected to the grid at the end of the year, said CSIC chairman Yang Benxin.

The machine comes as Siemens Wind Power prepares to build a version of its own 6MW turbine using 75-metre blades. Currently, the record blade size for a wind turbine are the 73-metre versions used on Alstom's Haliade machine.

CSIC's own 75-metre blades are made by a subsidiary, although it refused to give further details about the company or how long it had been making wind turbine components.

CSIC is not the only manufacturer to make 75-metre blades in China. Earlier this year, Zhongfu Liazhong said it was also able to produce blades of this size.

Although Siemens has produced its blade, it is yet to install it on a turbine - the 6MW was initially launched with a 120-metre rotor. A spokeswoman for the company said the 75-metre blade was set to be installed in the summer.

Yang said CSIC has spent three years developing the turbine alongside Dutch engineering firm Mecal, KK-Electronic from Denmark, and German offshore specialist Lehnhoff Consulting.

The turbine features large bearings, gearbox, high-speed permanent magnetic generator, and full power converter. The turbine head, with compact structure, is 15% lighter than other 5MW turbines.

Yang said the turbine is suitable in 90% of Chinese wind farms, both onshore and offshore. So far, Sinovel and Guodian United Power have produced 6MW offshore turbines, while XEMC has produced a 5MW offshore turbine.

European expansion:
Last month, CSIC revealed it is planning a €400 million investment in acquiring and expanding an eastern European wind farm.

The company is a relatively minor player in China with only 1.4% of the market. Its products include Aerodyn-designed 2MW turbines.