Development of 2-MW Downwind Turbine Tailored to Japanese Conditions

Volume 58 Number 5 October 2009

Authors

Takashi Matsunobu
Generator System Div., Power & Industrial Systems Div., Power Systems Co., Hitachi, Ltd.

Tsutom Hasegawa
Wind Turbine Engineering Gr., Generator System Div., Power & Industrial Systems Div., Power Systems Co., Hitachi, Ltd.

Mitsuru Isogawa
Wind Turbine Engineering Gr., Generator System Div., Power & Industrial Systems Div., Power Systems Co., Hitachi, Ltd.

Kazuhiko Sato
New Energy Systems Engineering Sec., Hitachi Works, Power Systems Co., Hitachi, Ltd.

Moto Futami
Power Electronics Systems Unit, Hitachi Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.

Hiroshi Kato
Eco-Technologies Co., Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.

Overview

Wind turbine systems play a key role in reducing use of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide. Turbines used in wind farms for commercial production of electric power need higher reliability, enhanced efficiency, and cost effectiveness. Especially in Japan, there is a surge in demand for systems that can tolerate storm loads, are protected against lightning, do not cause logistical problems, and can produce a stable electricity output. Hitachi and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. have developed a 2-MW downwind turbine tailored to Japanese conditions. The first model for commercial production of electric power has successfully been built at Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. Kashima Works, about 100 km east of Tokyo, and successfully operated by Wind Power Ibaraki Ltd. The operation has met the design specifications.