The Switch, a leading manufacturer of permanent magnet generators and full-power converters, announced today that its 8.6 MW permanent magnet generator (PMG) for offshore use successfully passed initial no-load testing. The massive drive train component is scheduled to undergo complete full-load tests in the upcoming weeks. The Switch’s medium-speed, rear-mounted PMG design brings together the…
The world economy is showing signs of recovery after many years of being battered by the financial crisis. This is vital for the wind industry so that investments flow into the industry, and at the same time, transformation still continues. Announcements of investments in Dong Energy as well as Mitsubishi and Vestas joining forces are good indications that the strong players are ready to invest in the promising offshore wind.
The Switch has just achieved more than 1600 MW of installed capacity for wind turbine power generation, built in only three years. This installed capacity matches that of the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant, on the west coast of Finland, which has taken already four years to build and is still under construction.
As the world seeks to produce 20% of its power by renewable energy, a concern will be how quickly new capacity can be fully up and running. Wind and solar power change the game in the power production industry, since they offer the possibility to bring new capacity online fast.