This wind turbine test platform is being built at the National Renewable Energy Centre (NAREC). It is designed to allow manufacturers to speed up the development time of their systems.
In order to achieve this 35-meter-high, 3,000-sq.-meter facility to house the test rig was constructed on designs allowing it to be capable of handling the performance, endurance and compressed life testing of complete nacelles. The installation that GE has designed and will commission is comprised of the direct-drive, permanent magnet motor which will run at up to 30 rpm and with a maximum force of 14.3 million NM (Newton Meter), resulting in a power of over 20,000 hp. GE is responsible for the turnkey package for the test facility from the grid supply to the motor shaft, including a heavy-duty, medium-voltage drive system and comprehensive automation and visualization equipment, as well as overlooking the overall installation with the wind load simulator. The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is investing GBP 25m in the NAREC facility, through the design, development and commissioning of the test rig by GE Power Conversion and MTS Systems Corporation. The 15MW permanent magnet motor, serving as the main driver to emulate the wind speed has been developed and supplied by GE, Rugby, and features superior dynamics in conjunction with the controls, supplied by GE, Berlin. Due to its mere size with a diameter of 8 meters and an approximate weight of 330 tons, it was assembled on-site. The pre-fabricated elements are being shipped to the NAREC site and the remaining assembly work carried out in situ by GE.