Alstom teams up with Finnish university to develop turbines suited to arctic conditions

Alstom signed a letter of intent for research and development cooperation agreement for two years with Lappeenranta University of Technology to deepen the understanding of how wind turbines respond under arctic climate conditions and to further improve operations, performance and reliability.

The research will focus on the development of ice sensors and methods for clearing build ups on blades and components.

The university - the biggest research and education unit in the Finnish energy sector - will provide academic expertise through the participation of professors and researchers, while the Muukko wind turbines will be used for empirical studies.

Markus Alholm, president of Alstom Finland, said: "The cooperation will definitively strengthen our knowhow and presence in the Nordic wind power market. We are also very pleased with Alstom's first Finnish wind farm, which we have executed according to the schedule and successfully in winter conditions."

The Muukko farm comprises seven of Alstom's 3MW ECO 110 wind turbines developed specifically for cold-weather sites.