The IWEN Energy Institute gGmbH, in collaboration with the company NE-2 New Energy Engineering UG (haftungsbeschränkt), is participating in an ambitious international research initiative to advance the development of next-generation wind turbine technology. The project, titled “10+MW,” is being carried out for and together with the Estonian wind turbine OEM Eleon AS and brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts from Estonia, Germany, France, Finland, and China.
At the core of the research are Eleon’s existing wind turbines, which have accumulated more than a decade of operational experience. This extensive field data provides a strong empirical foundation for the project. Eleon is known for its gearless wind turbine technology, a design that eliminates the gearbox and enhances reliability while reducing maintenance requirements. A key element of the company’s technological leadership is its patented generator integration concept, which forms the basis for the new research work.
The central aim of the 10+MW project is to upscale Eleon’s proven integration concept to the 10-megawatt class and beyond. In parallel, researchers are developing a new, more cost-efficient hybrid tower design and exploring rotor diameters of up to 200 meters. These advancements are intended to significantly increase energy yield while maintaining structural integrity and economic viability.
The primary objective of the project’s concept phase is to support the preliminary design and optimization of a next-generation 10-megawatt-class wind turbine. To achieve this, multiple turbine configurations are being investigated. These configurations combine different rotor blade designs, innovative hybrid tower concepts, and advanced controller strategies.
An extensive series of simulations forms the backbone of the research. The team systematically evaluates how blade type, geometric parameters, and cutting-edge control approaches influence annual energy production, structural loads, tip-to-tower clearance, and overall dynamic behavior. Particular emphasis is placed on load mitigation potential and on understanding the interaction between control strategies and site-specific wind characteristics.
By integrating long-term operational insights with advanced simulation methodologies and international expertise, the project aims to lay the groundwork for a highly efficient and economically competitive 10+ MW wind turbine platform.