Germany-based Senvion (www.senvion.com), a leading manufacturer of onshore and offshore wind turbines, has completed the installation of the first 3.4M140 EBC turbine prototype in Heckelberg for Notus Energy.

The Senvion 3.4M140 is equipped with a sound-optimised blade profile and a pitch control system to reduce turbine load, and is able to power nearly 3,000 households in low wind conditions.

Production of the Senvion 3.4M140 (with hub heights of 110 and 130m) will start towards the end of this year.

Due to the larger rotor (compared with previous models) and the 68m blades at these tower heights, this type of turbine is particularly suited to low-wind locations such as forested areas.

CEO Jürgen Geissinger said: “Senvion is focused on optimisation and developing the most cost-efficient solutions for our clients.

“The 3.4M140 EBC is one of the quietest turbines on the market, and the load-reducing pitch control system ensures a cost-effective design.

This development makes a significant reduction to the levelised cost of energy and demonstrates that even inland low-wind locations can be profitable.”

The Senvion 3.4M140 is equipped with the Next Electrical System — a gearbox-based concept that features an asynchronous generator and a fully rated converter to provide stable grid feed-in.

Senvion systems are designed at its TechCenter in Osterrönfeld and manufactured at its German plants in Husum, Trampe and Bremerhaven — and at a plant in Portugal.