Many people would be surprised at the level of technology contained in the design and operation of a wind turbine.
On 12th August, our Andrew Horncastle and David Watson attended an operator training workshop in Beverley with wind turbine manufacturer EWT. The purpose of the day was to thoroughly go through the design and components forming the turbine and the operation of the machine once in place.
EWT, a company based in Holland, have supplied several hundred turbines in to the UK and have a number operating in the East Riding, their most common machine being their 500KWH Direct Wind 52/54. The machine simply comprises the rotors, a generator, Nacelle blades and the tower within which the converter is housed. This machine has a direct drive and no gearbox.
The design is full of technology and this provides the operator with the ability to control and monitor the machine remotely 24/7.
David said “You drive by these things and think they are just a large windmill, it is only when you attend an event like this that you learn how modern technology allows the operator to harvest the maximum amount of wind energy available”.
The day began with a four hour session, listening to a presentation by EWT’s Johan Top at the Beverley Arms Hotel. After lunch, attendees drove over to Long Riston to inspect a new turbine. This involved climbing the 50 metre tower, a task not for the fainthearted.
This company’s turbine planned for Green Park at Newport will be commissioned in October.
