Vestas, DONG Energy team up to build world's largest offshore wind turbine

Danish wind power manufacturer Vestas along with DONG Energy is building the world's largest offshore wind turbine - the V164-7.0 MW - a turbine being designed to withstand the violent winds of the North Sea.

Vestas and DONG Energy, both based in Denmark, signed a letter of intent regarding the test of the new V164-7.0 MW turbine at the end of March 2011, under which, DONG Energy will perform a design review of the new V164-7.0 MW next generation offshore turbine.

The two plan to install one or more V164-7.0 MW turbines at one of DONG Energy's test sites for research and demonstration.

The V164-7.0 MW is a dedicated offshore turbine designed specifically for the harsh conditions in the Northern European waters, Vestas said in a release.

"Lowering the cost of energy in relation to offshore wind is essential for the industry. Some of the major stepping stones in achieving this are size and subsequent increased energy capture, which means a need for much bigger turbines that are specifically designed for the challenging offshore environment," Vestas stated.

When completed, the wind turbine rotor will measure 164 meters (538 feet), surpassing Spain's current 420 foot rotor. The size is almost equal to two American football fields.