Technology Status - NET Nowak Energie & Technologie AG

Productivity in kWh per m 2 per year
1000
800
600
400
200
162
Figure 62
Development of Energy Output
0
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98
Installation year
Source: Energistirelsen; Miljø- og Energiministeriet
Note: per m2 Rotor-Swept Area of Danish Wind Turbines.
Ex-factory cost reductions of 15% to 20% can be expected from a
combination of the following features in advanced wind turbines:
● Reduction of loads through the use of flexible blades, flexible hubs and
variable-speed generator systems. This leads to lower weights and lower
machine cost;
● Reduction in the number of components;
● Improved materials featuring higher strength-to-mass ratios and better
internal damping.
Specific R&D and design improvements are needed for offshore applications
to cope with different challenges and to reduce costs, allowing for large-scale
use.
Wind energy in Denmark has benefited mainly from the up-scaling of turbines and less
from mass production of turbines of a certain size. Mass production will play a small
but nonetheless important role in further cost reductions. Mass production has certain
constraints: for example, the size of towers can make local production preferable to
transport over large distances. On the other hand, economies of scale can be achieved
in turbine manufacturing. Furthermore, standardisation of sub-systems to increase the
modularity of systems allows for cost reductions in manufacturing and engineering.
Examples of potential modular and non-turbine-specific components are inverters,
switch cabinets, control systems, sensors and software.
WIND POWER X7