Mingyang has confirmed that a high-powered turbine prototype at its Lingao test facility has suffered blade damage.
The Chinese manufacturer said a “fracture” of blades occurred on a unit being tested at the site on the island of Hainan.
The statement follows images in the Chinese press which show a machine with two heavily damaged blade.
Mingyang has not confirmed if the affected turbine is the MySE18X-20MW offshore model.
However, an analysis of official images appears to confirm the flagship unit is the one that has been damaged.
Widespread reporting in China has also claimed the affected blades are those of the MySE18X-20MW.
“Recently, images have surfaced online related to the fracture of Mingyang wind turbine blades,” Mingyang said in a a statement to reNEWS.
“These images show a newly developed prototype that Mingyang is testing at our large wind turbine test center in Lingao, Hainan.
“The turbine was being tested under extreme conditions, a process that is crucial to ensuring that our newly developed models meet high standards and high reliability.
“Currently, the product is still in the testing phase and has not yet been marketed or mass-produced. The situation did not cause any harm to personnel at the test site.”
The MySE18X-20MW model has a rotor diameter of 260-292 metres, and was installed onshore near the coast in August.
According to Mingyang, at an average wind speed of 8.5 metres per second the turbine can generate 80m kWh annually.
