LM Wind Power to develop the world?s longest wind turbine blades for offshore wind turbines

This means that LM Wind Power, for the third time in a row, pushes the limits for the size of wind turbine blades and further improves the cost efficiency of wind power, not least for offshore wind farms.

This groundbreaking blade requires more than 20,000 hours of work by LM Wind Power’s specialist teams which focus especially on aerodynamics, structural design and production processes of this giant. The best in class design is specifically tailored for Alstom’s new 6 MW wind turbine and based on LM Wind Power proprietary profile, developed in its wind tunnel in Denmark. The blade uses advanced materials enabling LM Wind Power to design and manufacture relatively lighter glass fiber and polyester blades for the length.

The prototype blades will be produced in the company’s Danish factory in Lunderskov, currently producing also the LM 61.5P2, and will be ready for installation at Alstom prototype sites in Europe over the winter 2011/12. Future production depends on the end markets that Alstom wishes to address, most likely France, UK and other North Sea markets.

“We are proud to partner with Alstom on this important project. I am sure that Alstom’s turbines flying the world’s longest wind turbine blades from LM Wind Power will set a new standard for cost of energy with an advantage over current offshore turbines,” says Roland Sundén, Chief Executive Officer, LM Wind Power Group. “This new blade builds on the innovative features developed for our recent blade launch, the GloBlade® which has proved to be tremendously successful, offering an additional annual energy production of 4-5 percent compared to standard blades”.

LM Wind Power’s expert engineers focus on design, materials and processes in order to deliver high-performing, reliable blades

The longest blade currently in serial production is LM Wind Power’s LM 61.5P blade launched in 2004. The rotor diameter is 126 meters which corresponds to the size of two football fields.

LM Wind Power Group is the world’s largest component supplier to the wind power industry comprising a blades, brakes and service business and operating from or close to the major wind energy markets. LM Wind Power has produced more than 130,300 blades in the course of more than 30 years corresponding to approximately 43 GW installed wind power capacity.

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind energy, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 95,000 people in more than 70 countries, and had sales of over €23 billion in 2009/10 (pro forma figures).

www.lmwindpower.com