Østerild Wind Turbine Test Field

Østerild Wind Turbine Test Field is a facility managed by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) for testing of wind turbines with a pinnacle height up to 250 metres near Thisted-Østerild, Denmark.^[1]

History

The area was plagued by flying sand from about 1450, and a plantation was started from 1889 to keep the sand in check.^[2]

The international IEC 61400 standard specifies how to design and validate wind turbines to gain commercial value.^[3] A suitable area for testing wind turbines must have good wind, a specific surface roughness, a clear area around the site, and not be in a EU Special Protection Area. After investigating 17 areas^[4] and drawing criticism,^[5] the Folketing decided in June 2010 to establish a wind turbine test center at Østerild. It was inaugurated in 2012,^[2] and is popular among tourists.^[6] New ponds and open areas have improved conditions for bats.^[7][8] The first sea eagles came to the area in 2015.^[9]

Description

There are 7 test stands, and each test stand has its own meteorological mast due west. Some stands were not yet put in use in 2015.^[10] In 2016, the wind turbine industry requested more stands to fulfill future test requirements.^[11]

At the northern and the southern end of the test field, there are two 250 metre tall guyed masts equipped with lamps to warn aircraft. The masts are situated at 57°05′13″N 8°52′50″E / 57.087056°N 8.880673°E and at 57°02′56″N 8°52′51″E / 57.048882°N 8.880799°E.

List of sites

Test sites as of December 2015 :

Test stand	Type	Manufacturer	Construction year	Hub height	Rotor diameter	Total height	Power	Coordinates	References and remarks
1	Alstom Wind 151-6	EDF Énergies Nouvelles		104 m	151 m	180 m	6 MW	57°05′04″N 8°53′01″E / 57.084379°N 8.883640°E	[12] To be erected in Spring 2016
2	Vestas V164-8.0	Vestas Wind Systems	2014	140 m	164 m	222 m	8.0 MW	57°04′44″N 8°53′01″E / 57.079003°N 8.883576°E	[13] Tallest wind turbine in the world
3	Vestas V126-3.3	Vestas Wind Systems		116 m	126 m	179 m	3.3 MW	57°04′25″N 8°53′03″E / 57.0736855°N 8.884169°E
4	Vestas V110-2.0	Vestas Wind Systems		98 m	110 m	153 m	2 MW	57°04′05″N 8°53′02″E / 57.068156°N 8.883790°E
5	EN-120/3.0	Envision Energy		90 m	120 m	150 m	3 MW	57°03′46″N 8°53′02″E / 57.062906°N 8.883833°E
6	SWT 7.0-154	Siemens Wind Power		120 m	154 m	197 m	7.0 MW	57°03′25″N 8°53′03″E / 57.0569979°N 8.8841361°E	[14] From October 2012 until October 2013 world's largest wind turbine rotor
7	SWT 4.0-130	Siemens Wind Power	2012	110 m	130 m	175 m	4.0 MW	57°03′06″N 8°53′03″E / 57.0516083°N 8.8840556°E	[15] Modified SWT-3.6-wind turbine with larger rotor and more powerful generator. To be replaced by a SWT 7.0

See also

• Wind power in Denmark
• List of tallest structures in Denmark

References

1. "Østerild: Nationalt testcenter for store vindmøller(onshore) - 4C Offshore".
2. "Historie". Danish Nature Agency.
3. International Standard IEC 61400-1, Third Edition International Electrotechnical Commission, August 2005. Accessed: 12 March 2011.
4. "Sådan blev Østerild valgt". Danish Nature Agency.
5. "Vindmølleindustrien: Derfor hastede Østerild-beslutning". Ingeniøren.
6. "Turister elsker kæmpe-vindmøller". Ingeniøren.
7. Monitoring bats and birds Danish Nature Agency
8. "Fugle undviger testcenterets vindmoeller". Danish Nature Agency.
9. "Havørne-unger i Thy". Danish Nature Agency.
10. "Endelig bliver Testcenter Østerild fyldt op". Ingeniøren.
11. "Industrien ønsker flere testpladser til store vindmøller". Ingeniøren.
12. "Haliade 150-6MW - Østerild (onshore) - 4C Offshore".
13. "V164-8.0 MW - Østerild (onshore) - 4C Offshore".
14. "SWT-7.0-154 - Østerild (onshore) - 4C Offshore".
15. "SWT-4.0-130 - Østerild (onshore) - 4C Offshore".

External links

• Østerild - National Test Centre for Large Wind Turbines, DTU page
• National Testing Centre for Large Wind Turbines in Østerild, tourist page
• Environmental papers
• Brochure
• Current weather measurements