LARGE WIND TURBINES: A EUROPEAN COORDINATED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

At the present time, the commercial use of wind energy for electricity production is based on series produced wind energy turbines with power ratings up to approximately 500 kW. In a good wind regime turbines of this kind can achieve energy production costs near to conventional generating costs. Very large wind energy conveners in the megawatt range have been under development for about 15 years, but as yet their commercial contribution is small.

The European Commission has taken a coordinated initiative to support the development of large wind turbines in the Megawatt power range. In the R&D programmes JOULE and THERMIE a variety of projects are being developed and demonstrated. The aim is the availability of economic large wind turbines for commercial application.