Goldwind Americas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd., announced May 8 that it has completed the installation of its GW 3MW(S) Smart Wind Turbine test unit at the UL Advanced Wind Turbine Test Facility located at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. The scalable 3-megawatt test turbine has an assembled hub height of 426.5 ft. (130 m) and a blade tip height of 653.5 ft. (199.2 m), making it the tallest wind turbine in the United States.
Developed by Goldwind, the onshore GW 3MW(S) prototype features scalable rated capacity of up to 3.57 MW and a rotor diameter of 446.2 ft. (136 m). The platform's structured design maintains Goldwind's Permanent Magnet Direct Drive (PMDD) turbine technology and incorporates attributes from the GW 1.5 and GW 2.5 MW platforms, including industry-leading availability and performance. Goldwind utilized LM Windpower for the supply of the blades and Broadwind Energy for the supply of tower components, all of which were transported by Anderson Trucking Service. Wanzek Construction, of West Fargo, N.D., led the project's construction.
“The installation of Goldwind's 3S prototype serves as an important milestone for Goldwind Americas and its global strategy to commercialize Goldwind's turbine technology in the United States and abroad. The scalable 3-megawatt wind turbine, named 'Best in Class' by Windpower Monthly, underscores Goldwind's dedication to the continuous innovation of its product offerings,” said David Sale, chief executive officer of Goldwind Americas.
The GW 3MW(S) features scalable capacity, smart turbine controls, and a structured design. It was officially launched in October 2016 at the China Windpower Exhibition, with the first prototype in China grid-connected in January 2017 in Zhangbei Grassland, Hebei Province, China.
Reinhard Sander, vice president of engineering and technology for Goldwind Americas said, “The newest model in Goldwind's portfolio of turbines continues to push the technology envelope and define what is possible in the wind industry. This allows our customers to maximize project economics with a larger nameplate design at a greater hub height, while benefiting from the scalability and adaptability of the 3 MW-plus platform.”
This is the first prototype Goldwind has installed and tested outside of its headquarters in China. The United States-based prototype will be fully commissioned and testing began in May.
For more information, visit goldwindamericas.com/GW3S.
