The first blade for the V236-15.0 MW™ prototype is now complete

The successful completion of the first blade is always a significant milestone in the prototyping of a new turbine - and with its impressive 115.5-meter wingspan, the blade also sets new standards for swept area.

The design of the blade has required an extension and retooling of Vestas’ existing blade production facility at Nakskov in Denmark. The successful completion of this first blade confirms the factory’s ability to deliver on time and to the high levels of quality demanded. Already, the production of the remaining two blades is well underway.

“With the first V236-15.0 MW™ blade completed and the remaining two blades well underway, we are looking forward to installing the prototype at the Østerild National test centre in Western Jutland, Denmark. This is the culmination of many months of dedicated and hard work at the Nakskov factory and colleagues across the full Vestas value chain, “ says Chief Operations Officer Tommy Rahbek Nielsen.

One year ago, Vestas announced the completion of the blade mould. Since then, a mock blade and a test blade have successfully been produced at the factory. The on-time delivery of the first prototype blade marks another step closer to the prototype’s installation which will start this November at the Østerild National test centre.  

The V236-15.0 MW™ moves the boundaries of offshore wind energy forward, with one single turbine being capable of producing up to 80GWh/Year depending on site-specific conditions, which is enough energy to power more than 20,000 households.