Examining the trends of 35 years growth of key wind turbine components

TY - JOUR

T1 - Examining the trends of 35 years growth of key wind turbine components

AU - Enevoldsen, Peter

AU - Xydis, George

PY - 2019/6/1

Y1 - 2019/6/1

N2 - The wind industry has innovated constantly throughout the past decades. Nevertheless, few studies have adequately analyzed the trends and consequences of the ever-growing wind turbines. Understanding the development and relationship of the technical characteristics of wind turbines provides insight into future innovations for multi-megawatt wind turbines. Such knowledge can be useful for industry members or researchers who are determined to design anything from new energy plans to the next wind turbine component. This study draws on an extensive dataset consisting of 35 years of multi-megawatt wind turbine inventions to explain the recent decades’ development, which has resulted in a doubling of tower height and rotor diameters as well as eight times greater nameplate capacities. In addition, this study predicts and discusses the future development of wind turbines. The prediction reveals that both onshore and offshore wind turbines will keep growing in size, although offshore wind turbines are forecasted to experience the greatest growth.

AB - The wind industry has innovated constantly throughout the past decades. Nevertheless, few studies have adequately analyzed the trends and consequences of the ever-growing wind turbines. Understanding the development and relationship of the technical characteristics of wind turbines provides insight into future innovations for multi-megawatt wind turbines. Such knowledge can be useful for industry members or researchers who are determined to design anything from new energy plans to the next wind turbine component. This study draws on an extensive dataset consisting of 35 years of multi-megawatt wind turbine inventions to explain the recent decades’ development, which has resulted in a doubling of tower height and rotor diameters as well as eight times greater nameplate capacities. In addition, this study predicts and discusses the future development of wind turbines. The prediction reveals that both onshore and offshore wind turbines will keep growing in size, although offshore wind turbines are forecasted to experience the greatest growth.

KW - Energy trends

KW - Performance patterns

KW - Wind power

KW - Wind turbine

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063103732&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.esd.2019.02.003

DO - 10.1016/j.esd.2019.02.003

M3 - Review

AN - SCOPUS:85063103732

SN - 0973-0826

VL - 50

SP - 18

EP - 26

JO - Energy for Sustainable Development

JF - Energy for Sustainable Development

IS - June

ER -