Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy’s giant 8MW offshore wind turbine, the SG8.0-167DD, has been awarded a type certificate by DNV GL, clearing the way for “immediate market implementation”, including installation at the UK’s 1.4GW Hornsea 2 and Taiwan’s 900MW Greater Changua projects.
The machine, which is now anointed with key international wind turbine standard IECRE OD-501, is calculated capable of annual energy production 20% higher than the German-Spanish OEM’s 7MW machine, the SWT-7.0-154. A 10MW model, as first revealed in Recharge earlier this year, is slated to be in the Siemens Gamesa showroom by 2024.
“This verification [of the SG 8.0-167DD] demonstrates Siemens Gamesa’s commitment to maintaining the highest quality and performance standards for our offshore wind turbines,” said Siemens Gamesa’s head of offshore technology, Morten Pilgaard Rasmussen.
“Shortening the time-to-market enables us to more swiftly deliver our products to our customers and continue our contribution to combating climate change.”
DNV GL’s executive vice president of renewable certification Kim Mørk added: “In our recently published Energy Transition Outlook report, we predict a significant growth of installed capacity for offshore wind-powered generation from 20GW in 2017 to 150GW in 2030 and even 1,550GW in 2050.
“To realise this ambitious growth of wind energy, it is vital that OEMs like Siemens Gamesa continue to optimise turbine types that deliver significantly improved energy production and cost efficiency, driven in part by increased turbine, blade, and tower size. These trends result in improved energy capture per project or lower cost per MWh.”
Siemens Gamesa’s main rivals in the offshore space, MHI Vestas and GE Renewable Energy, have both launched 10MW-plus models, with Chinese OEM Dong Fang joining the club earlier this month and compatriot Goldwind unveiling an 8MW model on the same day.
The growth of the global offshore wind market continues to confound conservative industry analysts, with the International Renewable Energy Agency last month doubling its forecasts for 2050, when it now expects a fleet of more than 1,000GW will be installed and turning around the world.
