wind

Nordex Launches N163/5.X Turbine

Germany’s Nordex Group is further extending its product portfolio in the market segment of turbines with a nominal capacity of more than 5 MW with its N163/5.X turbine.

The company says the expansion of the Delta 4000 platform is at the heart of its product development strategy. “We have now reached a further milestone with the introduction of the N163/5.X," said José Luis Blanco, Nordex Group CEO.

The N163/5.X turbine will be presented at the German Husum Wind Fair, which takes place from September 10-13, 2019.

Compared to the recently launched N149/5.X turbine, the N163/5.X shows its strengths particularly on projects with lower wind speeds. The nacelle, gearbox and all system components of the N163/5.X have been taken over from the N149/5.X.

A new element is the single-piece rotor blade, with a length of nearly 80 metres, based on the proven and tested glass fiber/ carbon fiber differential construction concept of the N149, which Nordex has been using in serial production for its blades since 2011.

The rotor diameter has been increased by 14 meters to a total of 163 meters compared to that of the N149/5.X. This makes it one of the biggest rotors in the onshore segment. This larger rotor diameter results in a swept area of 20.867 square meters. Compared to the N149/4.0-4.5, currently being produced in series, this means an additional yield of up to 20 percent for the new turbine.

The N163/5.X is designed for maximum flexibility and can be operated in different modes in the 5 MW range depending on site requirements and customer needs. This enables customers to individually configure the wind farm with regards to energy yield, turbine lifetime, rating and sound requirements, and thus adapt it ideally to the specific business model. The N163/5.X continues the successful approach of a flexible power range of the Delta4000 turbines N149/4.0-4.5 and N149/5.X.

The turbine will initially be offered with hub heights of between 118 and 164 meters. The turbine options also include a cold climate version for operation in temperatures as low as -30°C.

Nordex has commissioned TÜV SÜD to carry out not only type certification but also type approval of the N163/5.X turbines according to the 2012 DIBt guideline based on German construction law. Completion of certification, followed by serial production, is scheduled for 2021.