Vestas begins testing on first V164 80-metre blade

DENMARK: The first prototype blade of Vestas' 8MW V164 - has been produced at its research centre on the Isle of Wight, UK.

by Ben Milelr 10 September 2013

Prototype blade of potentially the world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine – Vestas' V164-8MW

Vestas’ 80 metre blade, the longest produced by the Danish company, will be tested for six months.

According to the turbine manufacturer the 33-tonne blade will experience the wind conditions of the North Sea over a simulated 25-year lifetime.

Vestas chief technology officer, Anders Vedel, said: "Test and verification of the blade is a critical stage of the development of the V164-8MW.

"Moving as much of the verification process as possible into our state of the art test centre ensures the blade, the bearing and other components perform to the high standards our customers expect."

The V164-8MW prototype will be installed in the first quarter of 2014 at the Danish national testing centre in Østerild, north Denmark.