Work begins on wind-turbine blade test stand

Spain-based Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has begun construction of the world’s largest wind-turbine blade test stand — in Denmark.

The Aalborg site will be capable of performing full-scale tests on the next generation of SGRE rotor blades, and it is expected to be fully operational before the end of the year.

The company says that this significant investment in testing will result in savings for SGRE’s clients in the future.

A company spokesman said (www.siemensgamesa.com): “The first tests will be on the 94m blades for the SG 10.0-193 DD offshore wind turbine, but we are building the test stand to accommodate the blade sizes that we will see in the future.”

The huge structure in Aalborg will have more steel rebar reinforcement per m2 than a wind-turbine foundation. It is designed to complete the testing of a blade in the shortest-possible time, while meeting IEC international standards.