Levenmouth Offshore Wind Demonstrator Turbine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Methil Offshore Wind Turbine (alternatively Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine) is a demonstrator site for experimental offshore wind turbines at Fife Energy Park off the coast of Methil, Fife in Scotland.
| Methil Offshore Wind Farm | |
|---|---|
Samsung's wind turbine at Methil | |
 | |
| Country | Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Location | Fife |
| Coordinates | 56°09′46″N 03°00′32″W |
| Status | Under construction |
| Operators | Samsung, 2-B Energy |
| Wind farm | |
| Type | Offshore |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 1 × 7 MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 7 MW |
Planning
The initial plan (in 2011) was for test turbines to be operated by Dutch firm 2-B Energy.[1] Permission was given to construct one or two turbines in a test of high-capacity offshore wind turbines.[1][2][3] The first turbine would have been 179 metres (587 ft) high with only two blades.[4]
In January 2012 it was announced that Samsung would be the first company to build a demonstrator turbine on the site.[5][6] In April 2012 the Scottish government announced that it had also signed a deal with 2-B Energy to develop two-bladed offshore wind turbines nearby.[7] In July 2015, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult announced that it was in discussions with Samsung to acquire its 7MW demonstration turbine for research purposes.[8] This was successful and ORE Catapult now owns and operates the turbine as a demonstration site.[9]
Samsung
Construction of Samsung's 7 megawatt wind turbine was completed in October 2013.[10] The turbine is located just 50 metres from the coast, and at the time of construction was the world's largest and most powerful offshore wind turbine.[10] The tower stands to a maximum height of 110 metres, and 195 metres to blade tip.[11] The rotor has three blades and spans 171 metres.[11] Samsung has invested £70 million in the demonstrator project, which could run for up to five years.[10]
2-B Energy
2-B Energy secured a £26.5 million investment package for their project in March 2014.[12] 2-B Energy will establish two full-scale test units at the site.[12] The company is developing a 140-metre wide two-bladed turbine with full helicopter landing access.[12] The two 6MW turbines will be located approximately 1.5 km offshore.[13] They will stand at a maximum height of 109 metres above lowest tide, and 186 metres to blade tip.[13] 2-B Energy hopes to have planning consent by 2015, with the turbines being installed in 2016.[13]
