REpower has introduced its new 1.8MW rated MM100 wind turbine, a unit developed specifically for the American market. It was presented for the first time at the CanWEA wind energy trade fair in Canada at the beginning of November in Montreal.
The turbine has been developed in a 60 Hz version with an 80 m tower height and rated power output of 1.8 MW. It is intended for use particularly in regions with low wind speeds, where it can increase the energy output thanks to its enlarged rotor 100 m in diameter resulting in a high net capacity factor . The first pilot turbines are set to be installed by the end of 2011. Series production of the MM100 is scheduled for mid-2012.
REpower has produced the MM series since 2002, starting with the MM70 with a 70-m rotor diameter. The following year, the Hamburg-based wind turbine manufacturer launched its MM82 turbine with an 82-m diameter. Following in 2005 was the MM92, a variant with larger rotors which has been employed in numerous American wind farms, along with a cold climate version in Canada.
New LM 48.9P Evolution rotor blades developed jointly by LM Glasfiber and REpower are used for the MM100. The new turbines are also optimised in terms of their grid properties in comparison with the other models in the series. The power cabling, conductor rails and converter are modified to achieve this.
