Rare-earth-free permanent magnet generators (PMG) for offshore wind turbines with nameplates of 20MW are expected to be a reality within three years, following trials of a new-generation concept at the UK Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult facility.<\/p>\n
A 250kW version of the axial-flux design being developed by GreenSpur Wind, which uses ferrites an iron-rich ceramic for its magnets, would be part of a four-module 1MW unit that is foreseen to be scaleable to a power rating roughly twice that of the biggest PMGs in service today.<\/p>\n
It was our intention from the outset to design a generator that could be scaled for the next generation of offshore wind turbines, said Hugh-Peter Kelly, GreenSpurs head of technology and the inventors of the design.<\/p>\n
The feedback that weve received is that current designs have known limitations and new concepts will be needed to deliver next generation 20MW offshore wind turbines.<\/p>\n
ORE Catapults test and validation director Tony Quinn added: Our facilities [in Blyth, in northern England] have provided the perfect testbed for GreenSpur to further develop their innovative generator technology. <\/p>\n
It is a great example of how [we are] supporting UK SMEs [small- and medium-size enterprises] to develop technologies that have the potential to be an integral part of the next-generation of offshore wind farms.<\/p>\n
GreenSpur is now moving forward with modelling for significantly bigger, multi-megawatt generators, with the target of designing a 12MW-plus concept for offshore turbine created by stacking three 4MW units in parallel.<\/p>\n
Replacing high-price rare-earth materials with ferrites a waste material produced in steel-making would cut the cost of PMG magnets from 40\/kg ($50\/kg) to around 1\/kg, according to GreenSpur calculations, meaning the design could carve around 33% out of the capital cost of direct-drive generator, and so almost 5% off the price of a turbine.<\/p>\n
Andrew Hine, GreenSpurs commercial director, noted: We have proven our technology at a credible scale and developed a network of expert partners. Our plan is to work with a co-development partner with the expertise and capability to deliver a rare-earth free solution to the global wind turbine market.<\/p>\n
Discussions to use the PMG are underway with a number of OEMs, Hine confirmed to Recharge recently, but Greenspur was unable to disclose names at the moment.<\/p>\n
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Offshore wind turbine 20MW generator ready 'within three years' - Recharge<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rare-earth-free permanent magnet generators (PMG) for offshore wind turbines with nameplates of 20MW are expected to be a reality within three years, following trials of a new-generation concept at the UK Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult facility. A 250kW version of the axial-flux design being developed by GreenSpur Wind, which uses ferrites an iron-rich ceramic for its magnets, would be part of a four-module 1MW unit that is foreseen to be scaleable to a power rating roughly twice that of the biggest PMGs in service today Continue reading