Enercon new low wind turbines

ENERCON is completing its two turbine platforms in the 2-MW and 4-MW power classes by adding the wind class III segment. The E-141 EP4 and E-103 EP2 offer a significant increase in the annual energy yield while maintaining an extremely low-sound power level.

With the E-141 EP4, ENERCON is also bringing to market what’s currently the world’s longest onshore rotor blade. The new blade optimizes aerodynamic efficiency and provides higher resistance to dirt and lower sound emissions.

ENERCON’s new range of profiles has been developed by an iterative process and the design objectives were validated by a series of intense wind tunnel testing. For optimized production and logistics, the E-141 EP4 rotor blades will be divided into two parts like those of the E-115.

With a nominal power output of 4.2 MW, the E-141 EP4 will generate an annual energy yield of more than 13,000 MWh even at sites with relatively low winds where mean wind speeds are 6.5 m/s. The sound emission remains low at 105.5 dB(A).

This makes it the world’s highest yielding wind class III WEC. A prototype has been scheduled for late 2016 with series production starting in 2017.

The E-103 EP2 with a nominal power output of 2.35 MW guarantees a sound power level of 105.0 dB(A) and an annual energy yield increased by up to 10% when compared to the E-92, depending on the wind conditions. The start of series production has also been scheduled for 2017.

The E-141 EP4 will be offered with hub heights of 129 m and 159 m. The E-103 EP2 will be brought to market with hub heights of 98 m and 138 m.

ENERCON has also increased the performance of the E-115 from 3 MW to a nominal power output of 3.2 MW. Due to this nominal power increase, the annual energy yield will increase by about 3%, depending on site and wind conditions. The design of the machine as a wind class IIA WEC for sites with winds of medium strength remains unchanged.

“We are going to continue driving the development of technologies with a high potential for innovation in order to lower power generation costs while increasing WEC efficiency,” said ENERCON Managing Director Nicole Fritsch-Nehring.