The V236 Wind Turbine with a capacity of 15 MW from Vestas begins experimental operations off the coast of Denmark.
The V236 wind turbine has blades that are 115.5m long. (Image: Vestas).
The prototype of the Vestas V236, a 15 MW wind turbine, was recently installed at the Østerild National Test Center in West Jutland, Denmark, and has started producing its first kilowatt-hours of electricity, as reported by Interesting Engineering on January 4th. Currently, this is the most powerful wind turbine in the world.
With over half a century of operation, Vestas Wind Systems from Denmark has supplied wind turbines to 88 countries, totaling an installed capacity of over 160 GW. Introduced in February 2021, the V236 is a 15 MW turbine with a rotor-swept area of more than 43,743 m2. The rotor diameter is 236m, and the height of the turbine is 280m.
The turbine blades, measuring 115.5m, are manufactured at Vestas’ facility in Nakskov, Denmark. One turbine can provide 80 GWh of electricity annually, enough to supply 20,000 households in Europe and prevent 38,000 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere each year. The V236 turbine is undergoing extensive testing and validation before applying for a license to begin mass production.
“The Vestas team has worked hard to ensure the progress of the development and assembly of the V236 15 MW prototype. With this turbine, we have set a new standard for technological innovation, industrialization, and scaling for renewable energy to create a sustainable offshore wind power industry,” shared Anders Nielsen, Chief Technology Officer of Vestas.
Due to the advantages of large wind turbines, many manufacturers are competing for top positions in this segment. Last April, another wind turbine manufacturer, Siemens Gamesa, produced a turbine with blades measuring 115m, while a Chinese company announced the production of a 16 MW wind turbine at the end of last year.
