Vestas has announced two new R&D projects: cost-effective deep water foundations for large offshore wind turbines and an ‘Intelligent Energy Management System’ that will introduce energy storage into a wind power plant.
Building foundations offshore at large depths is a huge challenge. The goal of this project is to be able to design, construct and build cost-effective deep water jacket foundations for very large wind turbines located far offshore in water depths of up to 70 metres. Normally, foundations and turbines are contracted as two separate items. The second project announced is the Intelligent Energy Management System for a Virtual Power Plant. This project will introduce energy storage into a wind power plant as an optional component for enhanced power generation control. These projects have been initiated by Vestas and are being developed in close cooperation with partners. The Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation announced that it will support the two projects with a total of DKK 55 million. The total cost of the projects will be DKK 110–120 million. Both projects will run for 3–5 years.