← Business Models: Industry Specific (Infrastructure, Transport & Utilities) (all topics)
Platform manufacturing - wind turbines
What it is
Wind turbine models are defined by rotor diameter and rated capacity - the shift from 2 MW class machines to 3-4.X MW with rotors above 140 metres. Larger rotors sweep more area and capture better wind at height
A new platform requires re-engineering of blades, towers, gearboxes and logistics
Impact on industries
- Larger machines raise energy yield per site substantially, which is what makes lower-grade wind sites economic
- Fewer turbines for the same capacity cuts land, foundation, cabling and installation cost per megawatt
- Blade and tower logistics become genuinely difficult - oversize cargo movement on Indian roads constrains where large platforms can be deployed
- Platform transitions strand tooling and supplier investment in the previous generation, so the cycle is capital-destructive for the supply chain