“The design for the 10MW turbine, funded by China’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MST), is almost completed. We are stepping into the next phase on the components development with our suppliers.”
Chen did not reveal more details about the turbine, nor the schedule for the prototype.
Sinovel deputy chairman Tao Gang said that the company believes supersized turbines are the future of offshore wind power.
He said: “Ten megawatt turbines will be a long-term development and will bring Sinovel a technology advantage. But in the coming three or five years Sinovel will put more effort to sell the 3MW and 6MW turbines, to balance the product line, as well as the short-term and long-term goals.”
China’s largest wind turbine manufacturer, Goldwind, is also looking at the development of 10MW turbines. However, Goldwind chairman Wu Gang said the company is still working on the feasibility study.
According to MST’s plan for the 10MW turbines, a prototype is expected to be installed by the end of 2015.
Last year, Sinovel won the pilot project of development and demonstration of 10MW offshore turbines, which is funded by the central government budget and is to be constructed in waters off the coast of Jiangsu province.