Enercon E-126
Encyclopedia
The Enercon E-126 is the largest wind turbine
model build to date, manufactured by the German wind turbine producer Enercon
. With a hub height of 135 m (443 ft), rotor diameter of 126 m (413 ft) and a total height of 198 m (650 ft), this large model can generate up to of power per turbine. The nameplate capacity
was changed from to after technical revisions were performed in 2009. Enercon announced to further increase this capacity to , according to the Enercon Magazine.
Indeed, since 2011 the E-126 is formally available as a windturbine with maximal 7.58 MW output.
The weight of the foundation of the turbine tower is about 2,500 t, the tower itself 2,800 t, the machine housing 128 t, the generator 220 t, the rotor (including the blade) 364 t. The total weight is about 6,000 t.
The first turbine of this model was installed in Emden, Germany
in 2007. A total of 35 turbines of this model are erected (or in construction) as of , 19 in Germany
, 11 in Belgium, 2 in Austria, 2 in Sweden and 1 in the Netherlands.
The E-126 does not have permanent magnets, so avoiding the bad environmental imprint of rare earth
mining
i.e. Neodymium
.
Furthermore, during 2010-2011 many new onshore wind farm initiatives still in their early design processes were considering two options: a choice for wind turbines of the 2-3.5 MW class, or a variant choice for wind turbines of the 5-8 MW class. This approach is at least applied in the Netherlands. Examples for this trend are found for instance in the preliminary research for the “Wind farm de Drentse Monden” aiming at 300-450 MW with possibly 50-60 E-126/7.5 MW turbines, “Wind farm N33” aiming at >120 MW with possibly 15-40 E-126/7.5 MW turbines, “Wind farm Krammer” aiming at >100 MW with possibly 11-21 E-126/7.5 MW turbines, “Wind farm Wieringermeer” aiming 200-400 MW with possibly 60 or more 6+ MW turbines (in that case possibly Repower 6M/6.15MW).
, using 11 turbines of this model, was completed in Estinnes, Belgium
.
It supplies the average electricity need of 55,000 households.
, with 1,101 turbines covering 500 km² to generate 4,000 MW and an annual yield up to 12 TWh, is under construction in northern Sweden and will contain a mix of Enercon E-126 7.58 MW wind turbines and Enercon E-101 3.05 MW wind turbines, the exact number of each type resulting from further detailed studies.
and Machault
, at the southern side of the French Ardennes
, near Reims
.
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
model build to date, manufactured by the German wind turbine producer Enercon
Enercon
Enercon GmbH, based in Aurich, Germany, is the fourth-largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world and has been the market leader in Germany since the mid-nineties. Enercon has production facilities in Germany , Sweden, Brazil, India, Canada, Turkey and Portugal...
. With a hub height of 135 m (443 ft), rotor diameter of 126 m (413 ft) and a total height of 198 m (650 ft), this large model can generate up to of power per turbine. The nameplate capacity
Nameplate capacity
Nameplate capacity, also known as the rated capacity, nominal capacity, installed capacity or maximum effect, refers to the intended technical full–load sustained output of a facility such as a power plant, a chemical plant, fuel plant, metal refinery, mine, and many others.For dispatchable power,...
was changed from to after technical revisions were performed in 2009. Enercon announced to further increase this capacity to , according to the Enercon Magazine.
Indeed, since 2011 the E-126 is formally available as a windturbine with maximal 7.58 MW output.
The weight of the foundation of the turbine tower is about 2,500 t, the tower itself 2,800 t, the machine housing 128 t, the generator 220 t, the rotor (including the blade) 364 t. The total weight is about 6,000 t.
The first turbine of this model was installed in Emden, Germany
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
in 2007. A total of 35 turbines of this model are erected (or in construction) as of , 19 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 11 in Belgium, 2 in Austria, 2 in Sweden and 1 in the Netherlands.
The E-126 does not have permanent magnets, so avoiding the bad environmental imprint of rare earth
Rare earth
Rare earth may refer to:* Rare earth elements, a group of elements on the periodic table* Rare earth mineral, a mineral substantively composed of these elements* Rare-earth magnet, a type of magnet that employs rare earth elements to increase effectiveness...
mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
i.e. Neodymium
Neodymium
Neodymium is a chemical element with the symbol Nd and atomic number 60. It is a soft silvery metal that tarnishes in air. Neodymium was discovered in 1885 by the Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach. It is present in significant quantities in the ore minerals monazite and bastnäsite...
.
Enercon E-126 market
In September 2011, 132 Enercon E-126 windturbines were operating, in construction or nearing final approval.Furthermore, during 2010-2011 many new onshore wind farm initiatives still in their early design processes were considering two options: a choice for wind turbines of the 2-3.5 MW class, or a variant choice for wind turbines of the 5-8 MW class. This approach is at least applied in the Netherlands. Examples for this trend are found for instance in the preliminary research for the “Wind farm de Drentse Monden” aiming at 300-450 MW with possibly 50-60 E-126/7.5 MW turbines, “Wind farm N33” aiming at >120 MW with possibly 15-40 E-126/7.5 MW turbines, “Wind farm Krammer” aiming at >100 MW with possibly 11-21 E-126/7.5 MW turbines, “Wind farm Wieringermeer” aiming 200-400 MW with possibly 60 or more 6+ MW turbines (in that case possibly Repower 6M/6.15MW).
Belgium: Estinnes Wind Farm
In September 2010, the world first completed wind farmWind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
, using 11 turbines of this model, was completed in Estinnes, Belgium
Estinnes
Estinnes is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Estinnes had a total population of 7,413. The total area is 72.73 km² which gives a population density of 102 inhabitants per km²....
.
It supplies the average electricity need of 55,000 households.
Sweden: Markbygden Wind Farm
The world's largest wind farm, the Markbygden Wind FarmMarkbygden Wind Farm
Markbygden Wind Farm will be a series of interconnected wind farms in the Markbygden area west of Piteå, in northern Sweden. The project will be built by 2020, and will have a capacity of up to 4 gigawatts...
, with 1,101 turbines covering 500 km² to generate 4,000 MW and an annual yield up to 12 TWh, is under construction in northern Sweden and will contain a mix of Enercon E-126 7.58 MW wind turbines and Enercon E-101 3.05 MW wind turbines, the exact number of each type resulting from further detailed studies.
Netherlands: Wind Farm Noordoostpolder
Meanwhile the Netherlands government has given its final approval on January 6th 2011 for the Noordoostpolder wind farm, part of which consists of 38 Enercon E-126 7.58 MW wind turbines.France: Wind Farm Le Mont des 4 Faux
In France, a pending approval for the wind farm 'Le Mont des 4 Faux', consisting of 52 Enercon E-126 7.58 MW wind turbines, is considered to be confirmed at the end of 2011 or early in 2012. The wind farm is situated between JunivilleJuniville
Juniville is a commune in the Ardennes department in the Champagne-Ardenne region in northern France.-Population:-Personalities:* The poet Paul Verlaine rented a room in Juniville in the 1880s, close to the farm where his pupil Lucien Létinois lived. The village inn has been restored and turned...
and Machault
Machault
-Communes of France:*Machault, in the Ardennes département*Machault, in the Seine-et-Marne département-Other names:* Fort Machault: a fort built by the French in 1754 in northwest Pennsylvania.* Machault : a French battle ship built in 1757....
, at the southern side of the French Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
, near Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
.
See also
- Fuhrländer Wind Turbine LaasowFuhrländer Wind Turbine LaasowFuhrländer Wind Turbine Laasow is a wind turbine, built in 2006 near the village of Laasow, Brandenburg, Germany. It consists of a 160 metre lattice tower, which carries a rotor 90 metres in diameter. It is the tallest wind turbine in the world...
, the tallest wind turbine in the world - Wind PowerWind powerWind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
- Record-holding turbines