A Chinese company has tested a two-bladed wind turbine. This move could revolutionize the renewable energy sector.
Chinese renewable energy company Envision Energy has announced the performance results of its two-bladed onshore wind turbine prototype, which it has been developing for many years. The company announced that after more than 500 days of testing, the turbine has achieved a 99.3% performance rating and is generating energy equivalent to traditional three-bladed turbines.
According to the statement, the two-bladed turbine produced 3,048 full-load equivalent hours of output annually. This represents a comparable output compared to three-bladed turbines operating at the same site. Operating with a mean time between failure of 2,444 hours, the system’s performance demonstrates that it has overcome issues such as instability, vibration, and load distribution, which have plagued two-bladed designs for years.
The turbine was developed based on Envision’s Model X platform. Utilizing high-speed Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) technology, the system enhances both performance and stability. The lightweight turbine’s modular design creates new opportunities for remote and infrastructure-limited regions. The company’s statement emphasized that the turbine is engineering and commercially ready for market entry.
Envision Energy tested the prototype at its own smart wind energy validation center. The turbine was subjected to various scenarios on multi-axis load test platforms. The system was released to the public after passing long-term durability tests.
Two-bladed turbines have received limited industry interest to date. Vibration and engineering constraints have led most manufacturers to opt for three-bladed designs. However, Envision has been working on this concept since 2012.
