Every year it’s a challenge to choose the winners and runners up in each of the six categories in Windpower Monthly’s Turbines of the Year awards but, with the rapid developments we’ve seen over the past 12 months, this year proved to be particularly difficult.
Increases in rotor-blade size and turbine ratings are a key highlight, both onshore and offshore. In 2019, the first of our onshore categories was for turbines up to a rating of 3.4MW. That year, seven out of ten selected makes and models rated below 2.9MW. This year, the 2MW class has disappeared and the category is now for turbines up to 5.6MW, an increase from 4.6MW in 2021.
This year we have joint winners in the innovation category and, once again, we’ve taken a look at floating systems to watch. Floating wind is not a category in its own right yet, as it remains a minor segment when set against offshore wind installation more generally. But there is clearly huge growth potential to come, and we could see a seventh category added to our awards in the not-too-distant future.
For a selection of promising floating delevopments, click here.
Classes and criteria
Many factors were taken into consideration in the judging process; from technological innovation, product configuration and performance, to market positioning and response, including order intake.
Featured turbines should have gone into production during 2022 – or will do so this month due to weather-related impact and/or supply chain interruptions. If not in production, there must at least be an operating prototype and the manufacturer must be accepting firm orders.
ONSHORE TURBINES TO 5.6MW
To find out who won the first onshore category, click here
ONSHORE TURBINES 5.6MW-plus
Click here to find out who won the larger onshore category
OFFSHORE TURBINES
To find out who won the offshore category, click here
DRIVETRAINS
Who won the drivetrain category? Click here to find out
ROTOR BLADES
Discover the winner of the blade category by clicking here
INNOVATIONS
To find out who won the final category, click here
KEY TO TABLES
AEP = Annual energy production
C&GFRE = Carbon & glass-fibre reinforced epoxy
CSH = Concrete-steel hybrid
DD = Direct drive
DFIG = Doubly fed induction generator
EESG = Electrically excited synchronous generator
GFRE = Glass-fibre reinforced epoxy
GFRP = Glass-fibre reinforced polyester
HH = Hub height
HSG = High speed geared
IG = Induction generator
LDST = Large-diameter steel tower
LSG = Low-speed geared
MBU = Main bearing unit – main shaft, two bearings and shared housing
MSG = Medium-speed geared
PCVS = Pitch-controlled variable-speed
PMG = (Synchronous) Permanent magnet generator
TS = Tubular steel
XXX = Choice in generators
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