Wind News

Tuesday 16 February 2010

A testing rig for drive trains is set to join blade testing facilities at Narec

The world's largest open access offshore wind turbine drive train test rig is to be built in the UK under plans unveiled by the Energy Technologies Institute today (February 16).

Two companies - Rugby-based Converteam and Northampton firm HORIBA Instruments - are competing to design an indoor test-rig capable of testing a complete wind turbine drive train and nacelle with input power up to 15MW.

The test-rig is being designed to allow turbine nacelles to be analysed onshore and indoors before being taken to harsh offshore environments.

While blade testing facilities do exist, to date there has been nothing where the whole structure can be tested. As gearboxes are the main areas of failure, the rig promises to reduce the technical and commercial risks of mass production and deployment as well as increase the speed of deployment of new turbines and arrays.

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) said the rig would also support the design and manufacturing development of the large, high power wind turbines needed for The Crown Estate's Round 3 offshore wind programme.

Regional Development Agency One North East is investing just under £10m in developing the building and infrastructure to support the new test rig, which is set to be built at the New and Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) site in Blyth, Northumberland.

Narec is already home to blade-testing equipment and was awarded £11.5 million of funding to develop a facility for testing wind turbine blades up to 100m long in December's pre-budget report (see this NewEnergyFocus.com story).

The two competing designs will be presented to the ETI at the end of May and it is anticipated that one preferred contractor will then be selected to procure, build and commission the test rig, which should be operational by the end of 2011.

Lord Drayson, minister for Science and Innovation said that the new rig would enable British suppliers to exploit the opportunities offered by Round 3.

"Offshore wind provides a tremendous opportunity for UK businesses. It's a new business area, requiring new technology - the turbines needed for the UK offshore wind market are not yet produced anywhere on a commercial scale," he said.

"Testing is key for manufacturers, and today's announcement is further proof of the UK's commitment to providing access to world-leading facilities."

ETI chief executive Dr David Clarke said the facility would be a "key component" in attracting investment into the UK from companies interested in the offshore wind sector.

"When complete, this world-leading facility will allow turbine manufacturers and engineering teams to test the reliability of their equipment under realistic load conditions without the expense and risk of deploying them offshore," he said.

"It will also offer opportunities to component suppliers and research teams who will be able to test new technologies and designs more comprehensively and to offshore developers who will be able to validate the performance of equipment before putting it into service."