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The Enercon E-126 is an onshore wind turbine model manufactured by the German company Enercon. With a hub height of 135 m (443 ft), rotor diameter of 126 m (413 ft) and a total height of 198 m (650 ft), the turbine can generate up to 7.58 megawatts of power, making it the largest wind turbine in the world (by nameplate capacity) for several years.
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Specifications
The power output of the generator was changed from 6 MW to 7 MW after technical revisions were performed in 2009. Since 2011 the E-126 is available as a 7.6 MW nameplate capacity. The E-126 incorporates power electronics and offers grid stabilising capabilities.
The weight of the foundation of the turbine tower is about 2,500 t, the tower itself 2,800 t, the machine housing 128 t, the generator 220 t, the rotor (including the blade) 364 t. The total weight is about 6,000 t.
The first turbine of this model was installed in Emden, Germany in 2007. The list price of one unit is $14 million plus install costs.
Market
In June 2012, at least 147 Enercon E-126 windturbines were operating, in construction, or nearing final approval, 35 of them completed and operating. Furthermore, during 2010-2011, onshore wind farm projects still in their early design processes were considering wind turbines of the 2-3.5 MW class, or wind turbines of the 5-8 MW class. This approach is at least applied in the Netherlands. Examples for this trend are found for instance in the preliminary research for the "Wind farm de Drentse Monden" aiming at 300-450 MW with possibly 50-60 E-126/7.5 MW turbines, "Wind farm N33" aiming at >120 MW with possibly 15-40 E-126/7.5 MW turbines, "Wind farm Krammer" aiming at >100 MW with possibly 11-21 E-126/7.5 MW turbines, "Wind farm Wieringermeer" aiming 200-400 MW with possibly 60 or more 6+ MW turbines (in that case possibly Repower 6M/6.15MW).
Belgium: Estinnes Wind Farm
In September 2010, the world first wind farm, using 11 turbines of this model, was completed in Estinnes, Belgium.
It supplies the average electricity need of 55,000 households.
Sweden: Markbygden Wind Farm
The world's largest wind farm, the Markbygden Wind Farm is planned to have 1,101 turbines covering 500 km², to generate 4,000 MW and an annual yield up to 12 TWh. Under construction in northern Sweden, it will contain a mix of Enercon E-126 7.58 MW wind turbines and Enercon E-101 3.05 MW wind turbines, the exact number of each type to be determined by further studies. The pilot stage wind farm at Dragaliden was completed in 2010, generating 24 MW with 12 turbines.
Netherlands: Windpark Noordoostpolder
Meanwhile, the Netherlands government has given its final approval on 6 January 2011 for the 'Windpark Noordoostpolder, part of which consists of 38 Enercon E-126 7.58 MW wind turbines. Afterwards, an ultimate case for the highest Court of state by opponents has been closed on 8 February 2012, confirming the government decision. It’s now expected preparatory works will start before the summer of 2012.
France: Wind Farm Le Mont des 4 Faux
In France, a pending approval for the wind farm 'Le Mont des 4 Faux', consisting of an initial number of 52 Enercon E-126 7.58 MW wind turbines but in April 2012 reduced to a new variant of 47 turbines (deleting one 5-units row in order to meet some ornithological concerns), is considered to be confirmed as such 47 turbines wind farm in 2012. This E-126 wind farm is situated between Juniville and Machault, at the southern side of the French Ardennes, near Reims. Project developer is a company named Windvision.