Alstom launches ECO 122 -2.7MW wind turbine for low wind sites

Alstom (Paris: ALO.PA) announces the launch of the ECO 122 – a 2.7MW onshore wind turbine that combines high power and high capacity factor to boost energy yield in low wind regions worldwide.

The ECO 122’s leading efficiency and high yield set a new benchmark for low wind sites, said the company in a statement. At a wind speed of 7.5 m/s the turbine delivers a net wind farm capacity factor of up to 42%, equivalent to 3600 full-load hours each year. Its 122m rotor diameter and swept area of 11,700m2 – the largest in the 2-3MW turbine segment – maximise the harvest of energy and the return on investment to create new business opportunities for customers from low wind sites.

Alfonso Faubel, Senior Vice President of Alstom’s wind business, said: “Research and innovation are at the heart of our business. With the ECO 122 and other turbines in our ECO 100 platform, we’re leading the development of the new generation of high power, high-efficiency turbines to increase value for our customers. Longer blades capture more power more effectively, and with its swept area much larger than current generation machines, the ECO 122 has set a new standard for low wind sites around the globe.”

The ECO 122 produces about 25% increased wind farm yield on a given piece of land compared with today’s 1.5-2MW turbines, and fewer turbines need to be installed. As an example, on a typical low wind site, six current generation 1.5- 2MW turbines will produce around 40GWh/year, compared with more than 50GWh/year with only five ECO 122 turbines.

This yield advantage also means significant capital expenditure savings. An ECO 122 powered wind farm can reduce balance of plant costs by 10-15%, compared with a farm using typical 1.5- 2MW machines, due to fewer foundations, platforms and roads, and less cabling.

The ECO 122 is the latest evolution of Alstom’s proven ECO 100 turbine platform, and the result of more than 30 years of experience in wind turbine design. The ECO 100 platform now has more than 350MW installed or under construction worldwide and over 200,000 cumulative operating hours since 2008. All Alstom wind turbines are based upon the unique and proven ALSTOM PURE TORQUE® rotor support concept that protects the drive train from deflection loads, ensuring higher reliability and lower maintenance costs.
The first ECO 122 will be installed in mid-2012 with first commercial deliveries expected in early 2013.