On September 21, 2026, Danish wind energy giant Vestas officially unveiled its largest onshore wind turbine to date, the V182-7.2 MW, marking the company’s first new turbine model launch in four years.
V182-7.2 MW Key Specifications
Rated power: 7.2 MW
Rotor diameter: 182 m (swept area: 26,016 m²)
Power density per swept area: 277 W/m²
Cut-in / cut-out wind speed: 3 m/s / 25 m/s
Wind class: IEC Class S
Standard hub heights: 109 m / 170 m
Blade length: approx. 89 m
The V182-7.2 MW is developed on the proven EnVentus platform, which has over 15 GW of installed capacity and more than 2,000 turbines deployed across more than 25 countries worldwide. Compared with previous-generation models, its key design changes are as follows:
It features a larger rotor than the V172-7.2 MW, delivering approximately 12% more swept area while maintaining the same rated power, adopting a strategy of larger rotor size and lower power density per swept area.
Annual energy production (AEP) is increased by 4%–6%, depending on site conditions. Capacity factor can be improved by up to around 2%, and capture price performance sees an uplift of up to approximately 3%. More of its power output is generated during low-wind periods when electricity prices are higher, aligning with the revenue logic of today’s dynamic power markets.
The V182-7.2 MW targets global low-to-medium wind speed sites, with a key focus on Europe, Australia, South Africa, and North and South American markets. As Felix Henseler, Vestas’ Chief Technology and Operations Officer, put it, the model’s design philosophy is to deliver targeted enhancements on a reliability-proven platform, rather than aggressively pushing up rated power, so as to reduce project execution risks and improve bankability.
Notably, Vestas executives noted that project owners are not keen on dramatic jumps in rated power, and value low-risk, incremental upgrades more. This stands in stark contrast to the trajectory of Chinese turbine OEMs, which have been pursuing a “megawatt arms race”.
Full technical specifications have been officially released alongside the product launch. However, the first order, specific project site, installation timeline for the prototype, type certification milestones and volume delivery schedule have yet to be announced.
