That wind power It is the main renewable alternative energy in the world is known to all. Proof of this are the advances that have been made in recent years in increase the power developed by each wind turbine by multinationals working in the sector, especially in wind turbines that operate in open seas.
Wind energy installed in the world grew 12,4% in 2016, up to 486.749 MW, according to data from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). China, the United States, Germany, India and Spain are the world's leading producers.
Latest milestone in wind energy
The latest milestone in this regard was recently announced by the company, a union between the Danish multinational Vestas and the Japanese Mitsubishi, known as Mhivetasoffshore.
They have developed a prototype of 9 MW off-shore wind turbine The wind turbine, installed off the coast of Denmark, is capable of producing in just 24 hours an amount of energy equivalent to what a home in the United States would consume for two decades. It is designed primarily for wind speeds between 12 and 25 meters per second.
Enough to power a home for 66 years
According to Torben Hvid Larsen, Vestas CTO:
"Our prototype has set another generation record, with 216.000 kWh produced in a 24-hour period. We are confident that this 9 MW wind turbine has proven that it is ready for the market, and we believe that it will play a key role in reducing offshore energy prices.»
Pinning down what this means can be tricky, but the average electricity consumption of a Spanish home is 3.250 kWh per year. Taking this into account, a single day of production from this wind turbine could supply electricity to a home for more than 66 years.
This wind turbine model has a height of 220 meters, which makes it the tallest building in the city of Madrid. Its blades have a length of just over 83 meters and weigh more than 38 tons each.
Advantages of wind energy and wind turbine
The advantage of having high power wind turbines The benefits of these wind turbines are not only in their energy generation capacity, but also in the benefits for onshore and offshore installations. The innovations developed for these wind turbines can be applied to both onshore and offshore installations, optimising the process and reducing costs.
Thanks to this technology, a low cost power generation from a native resource, without producing greenhouse gas emissions.
Where to apply it?
Wind energy, both onshore and offshore, can be applied in any territory. For onshore installations, the repowering of wind farms is being promoted, mainly those located in areas with great wind resources and which were originally designed with lower power wind turbines.
These upgrades involve the installation of largest wind turbines, which not only increases the generating capacity of the parks, but also makes them more efficient without the need to develop new locations.
For offshore wind farms, the trend is to look for turbines of Greater power possible, since this space can be maximized by installing large, high-capacity devices.
New innovations in wind turbines
In recent years, the wind energy industry has seen significant Technological advances that have driven its growth and efficiency. This includes the development of largest wind turbines and with greater generation capacity, which allows to take greater advantage of the wind's potential. Today, the largest ones reach heights of more than 220 meters and are designed to operate even in the most adverse conditions.
In addition to improving size and capabilities, advances have been made in the Optimization of materials and designs. New, lighter and more resistant blades, together with advanced control systems, allow these turbines to take advantage of the wind resource more efficiently. Also, with the help of the Artificial Intelligence and predictive analytics, turbines can automatically adjust their performance in real time.
The rise of floating turbines and their future
The offshore wind turbines, that is, those installed in the sea, have shown great potential. Being located in the sea, where the winds are stronger and more constant, these turbines make better use of wind resources. Now, the next step is to develop floating turbines that allow them to be installed in deeper waters and further maximize their profitability.
These floating turbines will not only open up new opportunities in offshore energy, but will also help solve problems related to land occupation and the need for space for large wind farms. Projections indicate that these Floating turbines will be key in the expansion of the offshore wind sector in the coming years.
Emerging Technologies: Solar Energy Integration and Storage Improvement
Another emerging trend within the wind sector is the combining wind energy with solar energyThis combination allows for hybrid systems with greater stability, allowing for more consistent generation of electricity. This is especially important in places where wind variability can be a problem.
By integrating wind power with solar farms, hybrid systems can operate more efficiently and avoid the intermittent supply common to both energies. Solar energy can generate electricity when the wind is not blowing, and vice versa.
Finally, efforts are being made to improve the energy storage technologies, such as high-capacity lithium-ion batteries, which will allow the storage of excess energy generated by wind turbines. This way, the energy can be used when there is less wind or demand is higher.
This creates greater flexibility in electricity supply and makes wind energy a more competitive option compared to conventional sources.
The wind sector has grown significantly in recent decades thanks to continuous innovation and advances in technology. This has not only allowed for improved efficiency of wind turbines, but also their integration into electricity grids and reduced costs. With new developments in floating turbines, integration with solar energy and advanced storage projected, wind energy will continue to be an essential part of the transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.