Korea - Country to develop 3-MW offshore wind turbine

Korean Engineering firm Doosan Heavy has announced that it is close to finalizing development of a 3-megawatt (MW) offshore wind turbine, the WinDS 3000. The class 1A machine features three blades with a 92 meter diameter mounted on an 80 meter tower. The blades have an electrical pitch system.

Doosan said that the turbine has a lightweight gearbox, permanent magnet generator and a 20 tonne internal crane for maintenance purposes and has been designed to operate in the offshore environment.

Detailed design of the machine and manufacture of its key components is in its final stages and Doosan is expected to begin testing this month, with erection of a prototype at Gimnyeong, in Jeju-do, planned for July 2009. The prototype will be installed on-shore, Doosan says.

“The offshore wind turbine should have high reliability in their technology as well as good maintenance concept,” said Dr. Jong-Po Park, head of the renewable energy development team at Doosan.

For more information, please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net