Nordex Group extended is product portfolio with a 5MW-plus machine for moderate and light-wind areas, as the German wind OEM posted a 2018 net loss.
The manufacturer unveiled the N149/5.X model, the third version of the Delta4000 platform of 4 to 5MW turbines, which as well as its European core markets it also plans to target at growth regions such as South Africa, Australia and South America.
“Thanks to the proven technological basis of the Delta4000 product series we are in a position to continuously develop highly efficient solutions for different wind regimes and different geographical regions and to ensure short lead times for product launches,” chief executive José Luis Blanco said.
With the N149/5.X Nordex joins other OEMs with models in the 5MW-class, among them Vestas, and GE, which recently has installed a 5.3MW prototype of its Cypress platform in the Netherlands.
Nordex stressed to Recharge that the N149/5.X will be available in several power ratings from 5MW to just below 6MW.
The manufacturer stresses the new model can be adapted to site requirements and customer needs in terms of output and capacity, as well as sound-emission regulations.
The N149/5.X uses a new gearbox with a scaled-up electrical system compared to other Delta4000 models, but comes with the same rotor blade as the N149/4.0-4.5 machines.
Different tower heights of up to 164 metres are available, and Nordex also offers a cold-climate version for operation at temperatures as low as -30° Celsius, as well as an anti-icing system for rotor blades.
The turbine is due to go into serial production in 2021 and will be presented at the WindEurope fair in Bilbao from April 2-4, where Recharge will produce the official show dailies.
Net loss
Nordex sales last year fell to €2.46bn from €3.08bn a year earlier, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation almost halved to €101.7m, from €200.7m in 2017 – confirming preliminary figures.
The company posted a net loss of €83.9m in 2018, compared to a small net profit of €0.3m in 2017.
But a turnaround seems round the corner. The turbine maker stressed that with a well-filled order book of €3.9bn at the end of 2018, up from €1.7bn at the end of 2017, it expects sales this year to recover to €3.2-3.5bn, driven by an expected installation and sales push in the second half of this year. Ebitda margin is expected to be in the range of 3.0-5.0%.
Last year, the Nordex Group installed turbines with a volume of 2.5GW in 17 countries.
