Nextwind has experience with technology development, prototyping, type certification, series manufacture, and field fleet support of a wide range of wind turbine technologies. Nextwind projects have included geared and direct drive, on-shore and off-shore, distributed and integrated drive-trains.
Offshore 6MW Direct Drive for China
Turbine power system and control strategy development and system design for a 6MW direct drive turbine, scheduled for prototype deployment in China in 2013. Power system design to maximize energy capture; innovative medium voltage configuration for lifetime cost optimization; advanced control concepts; supplier identification and qualification; development of system and turbine test plans for risk mitigation.
3MW Direct Drive for the United States
Turn-key custom design including certification based on proprietary generator technology. Start-up company raised private investment capital and wind turbine is in design phase. Advanced control concepts; supplier identification and qualification; training of customer personnel. Prototype scheduled for Q2 2013.
Offshore 5MW Geared Turbine for China
High level strategic planning, turbine configuration and systems integration advice for a 5MW offshore design in the Netherlands, prototype commissioned in China July 2012. Tradeoff study for drivetrain concepts and power system concepts; tradeoff studies for subsystem design options; control concept development; supplier identification and qualification; identification of feasible cost effective strategies for assembly, transportation, erection and service.
2MW Direct Drive Korea
Review of sub-system design for compliance with GL 2010; Documentation for submittal to certification body; Recommended changes to turbine control and safety strategy, electric pitch system, and yaw system.
Sub-Megawatt for Power Consumers in California
Management of complete design process including training of customer’s engineers. Start-up company in California raised private investment capital and is in prototype phase in 2011.
Innovative Windpower AG 1.25 MW
Complete design co-developed with customer’s engineers, concurrent with training customer’s engineers. Conceptual and detailed design of mechanical and electrical systems, specification and sourcing, technical transfer and training of customer’s engineers, design certification to GL rules. Prototype erected in December 2009, design certification in process.
Powerwind (Formerly Conergy Wind) 900kW
Complete design co-developed with customer’s engineers, concurrent with training customer’s engineers. Conceptual and detailed design of electrical components, specification and sourcing, system integration, technical transfer and training of customer’s engineers, design certification to GL rules, prototype assembly and testing; prototype monitoring and reporting. Design and type certification granted, first proto running since July 2007, series production since January 2008.
Clipper 2.5MW
Consulting on the assembly of the Liberty prototype which subsequently went into production with over 400 machines manufactured; preparation of O&M manuals; commissioning of fiber optic load sensing system in prototype rotor which was later installed in over 1200 production blades.
GE 1.5MW US
Adaption of design from 50Hz mild weather design to 60Hz, US standards, extreme hot and cold including prototype testing and new design and type certification. Design upgrades deployed across the fleet (several hundred running turbines) and incorporated for new production (several thousand to date).
Enron 900kW
Market study and conceptual design for European and export market. Design and type certification. Adaptation from 50Hz mild weather design to 60Hz, US standards, extreme hot and cold including prototyping and new design certification. Startup and training of new engineering office in China to support design activities. First machines running in accelerated environment since 2001.
Enron 750kW
Value engineering of turbine to achieve lower cost of energy, prototype erection and testing, new design and type certification, interface with US government grant authorities. Design changes incorporated into over 300 machines before end of production cycle. Fleet management for over 800 installed turbines in the US and Europe with outstanding availability. Technology transfer of US designed 750kW wind turbine to engineers, production and service personnel in Germany and Spain.
Zond 550kW
Upgrades for reliability, streamlining of manufacturing processes, reinforced and upscaled design to become the Zond 750.