Alstom has signed a partnership with Freyssinet to enhance its ability to provide higher towers and the company has achieved a key milestone in the certification of its ECO 122 wind turbine and commercialises a 3.0MW model of the machine.
Following measurements taken over a 2-month period on an initial ECO122 unit installed in Wieringermeer, the Netherlands, the power curve of the wind turbine was measured and certified by ECN. Alstom also announced that it has signed a global partnership with Freyssinet to develop a 119-metres concrete tower specifically designed for its ECO122 wind turbine. This new tower will be made of 11 concrete sections, the lowest measuring 7.20 metres in diameter, for the base of the structure. Thanks to the installation of a temporary structure and a mobile factory close to the wind farm, each element of the concrete tower will be produced and assembled, by Freyssinet, on site or nearby prior to full installation of the turbine. Coupled with the MOU agreement previously signed with Max Bögl Wind AG, to develop a 139-metres tower of hybrid design featuring a concrete bottom section and a steel top section, this new partnership gives Alstom the ability to offer its customers two high tower options for its ECO 122, suited to harness the stronger winds found at high altitude. The ECO122 is now available in 3.0MW model which will have a 6% higher yield than the 2.7MW version.
