Northern Power Systems Introduces New 2.3 MW Permanent Magnet Direct Drive Wind Turbines

Additionally, Northern Power Systems today announced that it has successfully installed and commissioned its first prototype Northern Power 2.3 wind turbine. The prototype is owned by Heritage Sustainable Energy and is installed at the Stoney Corners wind farm in McBain, Michigan, USA. This prototype turbine, shipped from the new Northern Power factory in Saginaw, Michigan, is the largest direct drive wind turbine in commercial operation in North America.

The Northern Power 2.3, with its power rating of 2.3 MW, features a superior power curve and a lower cut in speed than competing wind turbines, enabling it to capture more power over a greater range of wind speeds. Combined with its higher availability and lower maintenance costs stemming from its sophisticated technology and simple gearless design, the Northern Power 2.3 offers customers more power, more of the time for a better bottom line.

Northern Power Systems is a pioneer in PM/DD technology with a long track record of development, including its highly successful Northern Power 100 as well as comprehensive testing of a 1.5MW PM/DD concept generator in 2005. Today’s Northern Power 2.3 represents the fourth generation of the company’s unrivaled PM/DD technology. Northern Power Systems, in cooperation with the U.S. National Wind Technology Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), successfully performed full-power verification testing in 2010 of the Northern Power 2.3.

“Our dynamometer testing with the U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL facility and field results from our installed prototype turbine have consistently exceeded expectations. We are pleased to commercialize our turbine with a 2.3MW power rating,” said Troy Patton, President of Utility Wind at Northern Power Systems.

“Today marks the culmination of years of dedicated effort to bring our customers the best performing onshore utility wind turbine available in the market,” added John P. Danner, Northern Power Systems President and CEO. “With a superior power curve, high availability and a modular PM/DD design, the Northern Power 2.3 will deliver higher project returns for our customers.”

Northern Power Systems has more than 30 years of experience developing advanced, innovative wind turbines. The company’s next generation wind turbine technology is based on a vastly simplified architecture that utilizes a unique combination of a permanent magnet generator and direct-drive design.

The revolutionary approach delivers higher energy capture, eliminates drive-train noise, and significantly reduces maintenance and downtime costs. Northern Power Systems is a fully integrated company that designs, manufactures, and sells wind turbines into the global marketplace from its headquarters in Vermont, USA, with additional offices in Massachusetts and Michigan, USA, and Zurich, Switzerland.

www.northernpower.com