CSIC to launch turbine with 75-metre blades

CHINA: Chinese turbine manufacturer CSIC Haizhuang may beat Siemens to become the first manufacturer to build a 5MW wind turbine using 75-metre blades.

CSIC's 5MW turbine was officially launched last week

The company is planning to install a prototype of its 5MW offshore turbine at the Rudong demonstration offshore wind farm, in east China’s Jiangsu province. It will be connected to the grid at the end of the year, said CSIC chairman Yang Benxin.

The machine comes as Siemens Wind Power prepares to build a version of its own 6MW turbine using 75-metre blades. Currently, the record blade size for a wind turbine are the 73-metre versions used on Alstom's Haliade machine.

CSIC's own 75-metre blades are made by a subsidiary, although it refused to give further details about the company or how long it had been making wind turbine components.

CSIC is not the only manufacturer to make 75-metre blades in China. Earlier this year, Zhongfu Liazhong said it was also able to produce blades of this size.

Although Siemens has produced its blade, it is yet to install it on a turbine - the 6MW was initially launched with a 120-metre rotor. A spokeswoman for the company said the 75-metre blade was set to be installed in the summer.

Yang said CSIC has spent three years developing the turbine alongside Dutch engineering firm Mecal, KK-Electronic from Denmark, and German offshore specialist Lehnhoff Consulting.