Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), a Japanese industrial giant, has been a frontrunner in driving the wind power industry forward. While they may not currently hold the title for the absolute largest wind turbine in operation, their contributions to the development of ever-larger and more powerful turbines are undeniable.
MHI's journey in wind turbine production began in 1982, when they delivered the first commercial wind turbine in Japan. Since then, they've steadily grown their portfolio, boasting over 4, 200 wind turbine units delivered globally, with a total capacity of around 4. 4 gigawatts (GW). This equates to powering millions of homes with clean, renewable energy.
One of MHI's most notable achievements was the development of their MWT-S2000 wind turbine in 2003. This behemoth, with a capacity of 2 megawatts (MW), was the first of its size to be commercially produced outside of Europe and held the title of the world's largest at the time. It utilized a permanent magnet synchronous generator, a technological innovation that has become commonplace in modern wind turbines.
While MHI isn't currently at the forefront of the single-most-powerful turbine race, their focus has shifted towards larger-scale production and wider adoption of wind power solutions. They've strategically targeted the global market with their powerful turbines, like the MWT92/2. 4 and MWT95/2. 4, which boast impressive rotor diameters and long blades, maximizing energy capture.
MHI's commitment to wind power extends beyond turbines themselves. They've established a robust production infrastructure, tripling their wind turbine production capacity to 1200 MW per year. This signifies their confidence in the future of wind power and their intent to be a major player in the global clean energy transition.
Furthermore, MHI has collaborated with other industry leaders like Vestas to develop even more powerful turbines. Their joint venture, MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, has produced turbines reaching 9. 5 MW, a significant contribution to the collective effort of pushing the boundaries of wind turbine technology.
Looking ahead, MHI's dedication to innovation and large-scale production ensures they remain a major force in the wind energy industry. Their focus on not just building the biggest, but on providing reliable and efficient wind power solutions is instrumental in making wind power a more viable and attractive renewable energy source on a global scale.