12 July 2011 | Luca Del Buono

 

Artists impression of the new test rig in Northumberland

The UK has Europe's biggest wind resource, but until now, has had no dedicated full turbine test facility. The indoor rig will be sited at Narec in Blyth, Northumberland should be available for commercial testing from June 2013.

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is investing £25m in the Narec facility, by providing funding to a consortium of Converteam and MTS Systems Corporation for the design, development and commissioning of the test rig, a world leading large-scale engineering project.

The test rig is capable of providing 15MW of power, as well as creating the dynamic conditions that wind turbines would expect to see when installed offshore. It will be larger and more complex than anything currently available and will help manufacturers increase the reliability of their new turbines, with the benefit to consumers of reduced energy costs.

The rig has been designed to allow the whole turbine nacelle to be tested, in a purpose built, onshore test facility before being exposed to the challenging offshore conditions. This will help reduce the technical and commercial risks of mass production and deployment.

The harsh operating conditions and logistics of operating and maintaining machines far from shore drives up the generating cost of offshore wind. Drive train failures have a significant impact on the economics of offshore installations.
Preparatory construction and infrastructure works have already commenced at Narec in Blyth, ahead of the start of building construction later this year.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "Combined with our strong manufacturing and maritime heritage, the UK is well positioned to take advantage of the global shift to clean energy. To do that we need substantial investment, and today's announcement of this state-of-the-art test facility shows our determination to support the renewable energy sector that is helping to reshape the British economy for the future."

ETI Chief Executive Dr David Clarke said: "This is one of the biggest projects the ETI has been involved with to date and highlights the importance of ensuring offshore wind can be used as a sustainable and affordable energy source for the UK.

"The ETI is accelerating the deployment of technologies that will help the UK meet its 2050 greenhouse gas reduction targets and develop the UK industrial base. This is a world leading engineering project that will benefit manufacturers, consumers and the UK economy as a whole by helping to increase the reliability and reduce the costs of electricity from offshore wind.

"Larger, more powerful wind turbines will need more rigorous testing and development before they are deployed in large numbers off the UK's coasts. It is faster, cheaper and more effective to do this on land in a controlled, indoor, world-class facility than it is to try and do it for the first time out in the North Sea.

"This is a major step in establishing the UK as a leader in the wind turbine industry", said Clarke.

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