Goldwind installs highest wind turbine prototype in US

Goldwind Americas announced on Tuesday it has completed the installation of a 3-MW smart wind turbine, which it says is the highest one in the US.

The company, a unit of Chinese wind turbine maker Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology (HKG:2208), erected the GW 3MW(S) demonstrational unit at the UL Advanced Wind Turbine Test Facility at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. It has a hub height of 130 metres (426.5 ft) and a blade tip height of 199.2 metres. With a rotor diametre of 136 metres, the prototype has a scalable rated capacity of up to 3.57 MW.

Goldwind explained that the specific turbine uses the company’s Permanent Magnet Direct Drive (PMDD) technology and features attributes from its GW 1.5 and GW 2.5 MW platforms.

"The installation of Goldwind's 3S prototype serves as an important milestone for Goldwind Americas and its global strategy to commercialize Goldwind's turbine technology in the US and abroad," said David Sale, chief executive officer of Goldwind Americas.

Wind turbine blade maker LM Wind Power, a unit of General Electric (NYSE:GE), has supplied blades for the test turbine, while Broadwind Energy (NASDAQ:BWEN) delivered tower components. Wanzek Construction, meanwhile, was in charge of construction activities.

Goldwind launched the GW 3MW(S) model in China in October 2016. The first prototype was switched on in Hebei province in January 2017.

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