The Atlantic Ocean tangles with hurricanes, typhoons are the scourge of the Pacific Ocean, particularly in countries like Japan, the Philippines, and China. Strong winds from typhoons can cause incredible damage, and were also thought to prohibit the construction of wind turbines—until now. GE engineers are working hard on typhoon-resistant wind turbine systems that can withstand the high wind gusts, but it’s not an easy task. A team in Barcelona is working on a special class of turbine called the 4.2-117, which is being built to survive wind speeds of up to 128 mph (57 m/s).
The turbine blades have been shortened, making them more robust and helping them stand up to higher wind speeds. Additionally, the tower has been constructed of thicker steel, reinforcing the turbine against the stronger winds. One more advantage of the smaller blades: it helps to make the typhoon-resistant wind turbine system more transportable—a bonus in a country like Japan with plenty of bridges and winding roads. The 4.2-117 prototype will be assembled at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and will be tested for six months.