The SeaAngel™ turbine - featuring unique hydraulic technology developed in Scotland - will have a minimum generating capacity of 7MW and a rotor diameter of over 165 metres.
The outline architecture of the turbine will be unveiled at the EWEA Offshore Wind conference in Amsterdam next week. Initial prototype testing will begin next year, with full-scale prototype testing expected to take place in the UK in 2013.
MPSE last year (December 2010) announced an investment of up to £100m in Scotland over five years, including the acquisition of Artemis Intelligent Power (AIP) and plans to establish the MPSE Centre for Advanced Technology (MCAT).
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Teams of experts in the UK, continental Europe and Japan are now deploying AIP’s unique hydraulic Digital Displacement ® Transmission (DDT) in an offshore wind turbine, with the aim of delivering a ‘game changing’ product that offers improved reliability and efficiency, and reduced maintenance costs.
MPSE Chief Executive Officer Akio Fukui said: “The successful development of SeaAngel™ - which will be unique in both size and technology – will play an important role in helping to maintain and enhance the UK’s preeminent global position in the offshore wind sector.”
Dr Win Rampen, Managing Director of AIP, said: “This marks a significant step forward for offshore wind technology, with the breadth and depth of MHI expertise and skills combined with AIP’s pioneering hydraulic technology producing incredibly exciting initial results.
“Less than one year after announcing our plans to develop biggest highly innovative offshore turbine, we’ve successfully demonstrated the technology and are set to take SeaAngel™ to the next level with further testing in 2012.”
(GK)
