Inauguration of Europe’s largest offshore wind turbine test bench
The Defontaine Group inaugurates Europe’s largest offshore wind turbine test facility and strengthens its technological leadership.
On 23 June 2026, the Defontaine Group inaugurated Europe’s largest offshore wind turbine test bench in La Bruffière (Vendée, France), a unique facility enabling full-scale testing of bearings for next-generation wind turbine blades.
This new test bench is recognized as the largest 1:1-scale facility in Europe dedicated to wind turbine blade slewing bearings.
This facility strengthens the Defontaine Group’s position as a major industrial player supporting the energy transition and the offshore technologies of the future.
A unique test platform for next-generation giant turbines
Designed to meet the growing demands of the offshore market, the new test bench can be used to test rotors with a diameter of over 250 metres, suitable for wind turbines with a capacity of up to 20 MW.
With load-bearing capacities exceeding 50 MN·m per blade and extremely high-power hydraulic systems, this installation is pushing the current boundaries of offshore engineering.
Key technical specifications
- Rotor tested: > 250 m
- Simulated power: up to 20 MW
- Hub: 6 m in diameter, 67.5 tonnes
- Blades: 25 m, 60 tonnes each
- Foundations: 1,000 m³ of concrete
- Maximum load on the 3 blades: 50 MN·m
- Resistance equivalent to a wind speed of 340 km/h at the blade tip
- Capacity of the hydraulic actuators: equivalent to the weight of 200 city cars at the tip of each blade, 25 m from the centre of the hub
This platform enables the rotation of one, two or three blades to be simulated, extreme conditions to be replicated, and the full service life of critical components to be tested.
An innovation born of more than 15 years of investment in technology
Since 2012, the Defontaine Group has been developing ever more advanced test facilities to keep pace with the rapid evolution of turbines:
- 2012: first test bench for rotors > 80 m
- 2015: extension for rotors > 120 m
- 2019: test bench for 7 MW offshore turbines (rotors > 150 m)
- 2026: test bench for 20 MW turbines (rotors > 250 m)
This steady growth demonstrates the Defontaine Group’s ability to anticipate the sector’s needs and to offer solutions tailored to future generations of wind turbines.
A strategic driver for the energy transition
By testing blade bearings under real-world conditions, the test bench directly contributes to:
- Improve the reliability of offshore wind turbines,
- Reduce maintenance costs,
- Extend the lifespan of the installations,
- Secure energy investments,
- Accelerate the roll-out of offshore renewable energy.
These tests are essential to ensure the economic viability and long-term performance of offshore installations.
A project supported by the Pays de la Loire Region
The test bench represents a 2 million euro investment for the Defontaine Group, with financial support from the Pays de la Loire Region, which underscores the strategic importance of this facility for:
- Industrial innovation,
- Regional economic development,
- European energy sovereignty.
With this new test bench, the Defontaine Group is cementing its position as a key player in the global offshore wind sector.
© Angies’ Eye – Defontaine Group
The inauguration of this new test bench marks a decisive milestone for the Defontaine Group. By strengthening its capacity for innovation and investing in state-of-the-art infrastructure, the company is reaffirming its commitment to providing long-term support for the growth of the offshore wind sector. This facility, which is unique in Europe, demonstrates the Group’s determination to support its customers in meeting the technological challenges of the future and to play an active role in the global energy transition. With this test bench, the Defontaine Group reaffirms its role as an international industry leader and its ambition to be a strategic partner for future generations of offshore turbines.
25 June 2026