Vestas unveils the V172-7.2 MW, which improves performance in low to medium wind conditions

Vestas' V172-7.2 MW expands the EnVentus platform and improves low- to medium-wind performance. The new variant offers 7.2MW, 6.8MW, and 6.5MW. The V172-7.2 MW will have modular nacelles. EnVentus has four turbine variants. Vestas has received orders for over 6 GW since the platform's 2019 launch.

To achieve net-zero compatibility with the expansion of sustainable energy, the renewables industry will need to grow at significantly faster rates over the next decade. Vestas is committed to enabling this growth as a global leader in sustainable energy solutions by driving industry maturity and investing in solutions that enable more scalable operations. Our modular product development is a key enabler for industry scalability, and the V172-7.2 MW is the latest step along this journey, expanding the advanced EnVentus platform and offering enhanced performance in low to medium wind conditions. In order to align, we are changing the name plate of the existing medium-to-high wind EnVentus variant V162-6.8 MW to 7.2 MW.

In low wind conditions, the V172-7.2 MW variant produces 12% more annual energy production (AEP) than the V162-6.2 MW variant. The new variant offers flexible power ratings of 7.2 MW, 6.8 MW, and 6.5 MW, as well as expanded site applicability for all conditions, with cold climate solutions and an optional larger CoolerTop for hot climates.

"At Vestas, enabling maturity and scalable growth is central to our technological ambitions. The introduction of the V172-7.2 MW will pave the way for wind energy to gain scale by making it easier and more efficient to design and produce high-quality sustainable energy solutions. The V172-7.2 MW exemplifies how our modular product development enables adaptable solutions for any environment. It's also a sign of how we can support our customers as a long-term partner through the impending energy transformation, meeting their needs now and in the future,"

says Anders Nielsen, Vestas Chief Technology Officer.

Vestas' new modularised nacelle architecture will be used for the V172-7.2 MW, with the nacelle structure divided into compartments that are dimensionally designed to correspond to general industry standards for road, rail, and ocean transport. This improves logistics and gives the turbine more flexibility over its operational lifetime. The variant will also bring Vestas' onshore and offshore platforms closer together, as the V172-7.2 MW and V162-7.2 MW share the modularised nacelle architecture with the Vestas offshore V236-15.0 MW.

The EnVentus platform is the next generation of Vestas technology, building on and leveraging proven technology from the 2 MW, 4 MW, and 9 MW platforms to more efficiently meet customisation needs through advanced modularity. The EnVentus platform now includes four different wind turbine variants, and Vestas has secured orders for more than 6 GW across 14 different markets on four continents since the platform's launch in 2019.

Source: Vestas news