UK’s Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has announced their plan to design the world’s largest open access offshore wind turbine drive train test rig.
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Two companies, Converteam and HORIBA Instruments, are delivering competing designs for an indoor test-rig capable of dynamically testing a complete wind turbine drive train and nacelle with input power up to 15MW. The test-rig is being designed to allow the whole turbine nacelle to be tested onshore and indoors before being taken offshore. The test rig is planned to be built at the Narec site in Blyth, Northumberland and located alongside Narec’s facilities for testing wind turbine blades and marine energy systems. 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.
