By Jo Nova
In the race for “free” but random energy, or perhaps for bigger status symbols, China set a new record in July with a 16MW wind tower with a rotor diameter of an awesome 853 feet (260m). It’s a bird mincer one quarter of a kilometer across. But already plans are being drawn up for an even bigger one.
What could possibly go wrong? It’s typhoon proof…
Gargantuan 22-MW wind turbine will be among history’s largest machines
By Loz Blain, New Atlas
Imagine something as tall as New York’s Chrysler building, but spinning. China’s Mingyang Smart Energy has announced plans for a colossal 22-megawatt offshore wind turbine, and standing in its presence will be an unprecedented human experience.
The new turbine proposed for 2025 by MingYang, according to Bloomberg, will have a peak output of 22 MW, and a rotor diameter over 310 m (1,017 ft), corresponding to a swept area of at least 75,477 sq m (812,425 sq ft, 14.1 NFL football fields, 60 olympic swimming pools), minus hub.
The Eiffel Tower is 324m tall.
A few months ago Siemens got bad news on turbine maintenance that was so bad it caused a 36% share plunge in a single day. And the news for wind turbines is still so bad Siemens shares haven’t recovered.
So if cables become uninsurable, bearings get brinelling, the leading edge degrades or MingYang wipes out entire flocks, eagles and whales — will they even mention it?
