Prototype wind turbine sets new world record for power output

A new world record for the most power a single wind turbine has produced over a 24-hour period has been set by Spanish-German wind energy giant Siemens Gamesa.

According to a post on the company’s social media channels, the prototype turbine – an SG 14-222 DD and currently the world’s largest in operation – produced 359MWh over 24 hours, the most energy ever produced by a single turbine over that period of time.

Apparently, this is the equivalent amount of energy needed to drive 1.8 million kilometres in a mid-sized electric car.

Siemens Gamesa first unveiled its 14MW offshore turbine back in May of 2020, and began construction in September 2021 of the first prototype at the company’s test site in Østerild, Denmark.

As the name suggests, the SG 14-222 DD has a nameplate rating of 14MW, a rotor diameter of 222 metres, and an upgraded direct drive (DD) generator. However, with the company’s Power Boost option, each offshore turbine can generate power up to 15MW.

Expected to enter serial production in 2024, the SG 14-222 DD already boasts orders for offshore wind farms in markets including Taiwan, the United States, and the United Kingdom.