Vestas launches low-wind variant turbine V155-3.3 MW for Indian wind market

Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has launched the V155-3.3 MW wind turbine, a low-wind variant suitable for the Indian wind market.

India is the fourth-largest wind market in the world, said Vestas.

According to the turbine manufacturer, as renewable technology improves in both efficiency and cost, the demand for sustainable energy solutions across the world in low and ultra-low wind regions continues to go up.

Currently, in India, the energy demand is estimated to double and the government there plans to add nearly 100GW wind power in the otherwise low-wind market by the year 2030, as per GWEC, India wind outlook toward 2022.

Vestas said that though the new V155-3.3 MW wind turbine is applicable globally, the company intends to use it for projects to be developed in areas with low and ultra-low wind conditions in India and the US.

The V155-3.3 MW turbine model provides an improved partial load production in low-wind conditions when compared to the V120-2.2 MW variant. The new low-wind variant turbine is said to increase the swept area by 67% and has a large rotor to rating ratio, compared to V120-2.2 MW.

The annual energy production (AEP) of V155-3.3 MW is also expected to increase by over 3% for a 300MW wind park with 46 lesser turbines, claimed Vestas.

Thomas Scarinci – Vestas Senior Vice President of Product Management said: “With the introduction of the V155-3.3 MW wind turbine, Vestas is connecting our proven 4 MW platform technology with customised solutions to improve our customers’ business case in low and ultra-low wind conditions.

“With this product designed specifically to optimise energy production in low and ultra-low wind conditions, we are confident that we can bring enhanced value to our customers and partners in India and other suited markets.”

Vestas introduces low-wind variant V155-3.3 MW for Indian wind market. Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Beall/Wikipedia.org.

In order to meet local transportation requirements, the V155-3.3 MW turbine will be built with an optimized blade design and market-specific towers up to 140m hub height. Also, the turbine is built on the 4MW platform and will have a full-scale converter for meeting grid compliance, and for delivering faster active and reactive power during dynamic frequency and voltage events.

Vestas is planning to undertake a prototype installation of the V155-3.3 MW turbine for Q3 2021, while serial production is likely to begin by Q1 2022.

The Danish wind turbine maker said that the V155-3.3 MW wind turbine will be mainly manufactured locally and sourced in India, thereby fortifying its existing commitment to the growing renewable energy industry in the south Asian country.

Additionally, the turbine manufacturer will be setting up a new converter factory in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, besides expanding its existing turbine blade factory in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Vestas said that the investments follow its previously announced new nacelle and hub manufacturing factory in Chennai, which is presently under construction.

Clive Turton – President of Vestas Asia Pacific said: “We have installed close to 4 GW of wind turbines in India over the last two decades and established a large production footprint, and we’re excited to leverage this as we support the government’s ambitions for renewable energy.

“With the introduction of the V155-3.3 MW turbine, we are able to offer improved energy production and business case certainty for our customers in India’s growing wind market.”