Starting today Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), together with Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe, Ltd. (MPSE), which oversees MHI’s power systems operations in Europe, will be presenting the overall scheme of the company’s new offshore wind power system, currently under development, at EWEA OFFSHORE 2011 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
In place of a conventional gear drive mechanism, MHI’s state-of-the-art configuration features the world’s first hydraulic drive train exclusively for use in large-size offshore wind turbines.
EWEA OFFSHORE 2011, organized by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), is Europe’s largest exhibition of offshore wind turbines. MHI is participating in the event, which runs through December 1, with the general outline of an offshore power generating system in the 7-megawatt (MW) class. The system, marking the first time MHI is announcing and showing the overview of an offshore system under development, is noteworthy for its adoption of a hydraulic transmission in the drive train. The rotor diameter exceeds 165 meters.
In November 2010 MHI and MPSE acquired Artemis Intelligent Power, Ltd., a UK venture company that possesses outstanding technology in hydraulic transmission systems. Applying this technology, MHI is now undertaking the development of a hydraulic drive train specifically for use in offshore wind turbines, targeting a new type of power generating system, including new blades. Plans call for domestic verification of the new system using existing wind turbine within 2012, operational testing in Europe in 2013, and commercial mass production to commence in 2015.
EWEA OFFSHORE 2011 is expected to be attended by numerous members involved in related business areas, including offshore wind turbine system operators, power utility firms, manufacturers, construction and transportation companies. MHI and MPSE aim to utilize their participation in this event to demonstrate the outstanding features of their new offshore system under development to a wide spectrum of visitors, with a goal set on cultivating business negotiations throughout Europe going forward.
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Offshore WIND staff, November 29, 2011; Image: mhi