“The production of the first blade for the V117-3.3 MW in Colorado demonstrates Vestas’ focus of being faster to the market in developing new products,” said Chief Manufacturing Officer Jean-Marc Lechêne.
“In just five months Vestas has been able to modify the production set up where we can introduce a new blade variant on a flexible production line that can be transformed between blade types within a single day.”
“The development of the new blade underlines Vestas’ commitment to produce wind turbines which meet customer demands by providing advancements in existing technology, while at the same time reducing overall level of capital investment.”
The 57.5-metre prototype blade is the first of a new variation of the 55-metre blade used for the V112-3.0 MW- with a 2.5-metre root extension. The increased rotor size means the V117-3.3 MW optimises performance on medium wind sites, increasing annual energy production by up to 7.1 per cent compared to the V112-3.0 MW.
The V117-3.3 MW is one of three new variants of the 3 MW platform recently released to the market, along with the V112-3.3 MW and the V126-3.3 MW. The new turbines developed from the same proven technology, enabling customers to benefit from higher reliability, more effective service and spare part operations.
![]()
The 57.5-metre blade is on route to Vestas’ testing facilities on the Isle of Wight, UK- for validation and lifecycle testing. The factory in Colorado also recently manufactured the blades for the V117-3.3 MW prototype due to be assembled in July in Denmark, as well as the blades for the first five V117-3.3 MW turbines which have been sold to a customer in Denmark.
Every single day, Vestas wind turbines deliver clean energy that supports the global fight against climate change. Wind power from Vestas’ around 49,000 wind turbines currently reduces carbon emissions by over 60 million tons of CO2 every year, while at the same time building energy security and independence.