Neither is seen as the perfect solution for the next generation of long-bladed machines being designed for installation in stormy, salt-laden winds as far as 300km from shore.
What the industry needs — according to several drivetrain designers — is a hybrid of the two.
By grafting together the best aspects of geared and direct-drive technologies, hybrid medium-speed drivetrains promise to be smaller, lighter, more reliable and more efficient than their pure-play counterparts in the 3-10MW class.
And
