Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Østerild Wind Turbine Test Field

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Phone
  
+45 24 63 24 04

Address
  
Testcentervej 7D, 7700 Thisted, Denmark

Hours
  
Open today · 9AM–9PMSunday9AM–9PMMonday9AM–9PMTuesday9AM–9PMWednesday9AM–9PMThursday9AM–9PMFriday9AM–9PMSaturday9AM–9PMSuggest an edit

Østerild Wind Turbine Test Field is a facility managed by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) for testing of wind turbines with a pinnacle height up to 250 metres (820 ft) near Thisted-Østerild, Denmark.

Contents

History

The area was plagued by flying sand from about 1450, and a plantation was started from 1889 to keep the sand in check.

The international IEC 61400 standard specifies how to design and validate wind turbines to gain commercial value. A suitable area for testing wind turbines must have good wind, a specific surface roughness, a clear area around the site, and not be in a EU Special Protection Area. After investigating 17 areas and drawing criticism, the Folketing decided in June 2010 to establish a wind turbine test center at Østerild. It was inaugurated in 2012, and is popular among tourists. New ponds and open areas have improved conditions for bats. The first sea eagles came to the area in 2015.

Description

There are 7 test stands, and each test stand has its own meteorological mast due west. Some stands were not yet put in use in 2015. In 2016, the wind turbine industry requested more stands to fulfill future test requirements.

At the northern and the southern end of the test field, there are two 250 metre tall guyed masts equipped with lamps to warn aircraft. The masts are situated at 57.087056°N 8.880673°E / 57.087056; 8.880673 (Østerild Wind Turbine Test Field Lighting Mast North) and at 57.048882°N 8.880799°E / 57.048882; 8.880799 (Østerild Wind Turbine Test Field Lighting Mast South).

An 8 MW Siemens SWT-8.0-154 was commissioned in January 2017.

List of sites

Test sites as of December 2015 :

References

Østerild Wind Turbine Test Field Wikipedia