Gamesa Continues Construction Of Spain’s First-Ever Offshore Wind Turbine
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Spain’s first-ever offshore wind project is continuing its slow journey to completion, as Gamesa announced on Friday that it had begun shipping components for the 5 MW marine turbine from the port of Bilbao to Arinaga Quay in Gran Canaria where they will be assembled.
The blades are the longest turbine blades ever to be produced and transported in Spain, and some of the largest in Europe. Manufactured at the Gamesa plant in Aoiz, the blades span each span 62.5 metres and weigh 15 tonnes.
Also en route is the nacelle, which was manufactured at the Tauste (Zaragoza) factory and measures in at 12.5 metres long, 4 metres tall and wide, and weighs in at 72 tonnes.
According to The Wind Power database, Spain currently has a total of 952 wind farms installed throughout the country totalling 22,796 MW generating capacity by the end of 2012.
The wind turbine is a prototype of Gamesa’s G128-5.0 MW offshore turbine, expected to begin operating in the third quarter of this year with aims to acquire the necessry certification within the following months.
Upon completion the G128-5.0 MW offshore turbine will have a rotor diameter of 128 metres. Gamesa hope to install more turbines in 2014.
Offshore wind has always been a tantalising option for developers and governments alike. Not only is there a more constant and strong supply of wind then there is over land, but offshore wind turbines negate any of the selfish claims of communities who oppose onshore wind farms.
The installation of offshore wind turbines cost more, due to the tricky nature of installing a giant structure out at sea, but the long-term benefits are clear.
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