Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) resharpened its focus on geared technology for onshore turbines as it streamlined the technology of the merged company, while upgrading its offshore offer with a larger rotor diameter for its 8MW machine.
The German-Spanish OEM at the WindEurope conference and exhibition 2017 launched the SG 4.2-145 model as part of a new geared turbine platform. With a 145-metre rotor, it offers an increased swept area of 21% and an enhanced annual yield of more than 21% when compared to its geared predecessor, the G132-3.465MW of the Gamesa brand.
“The single platform strategy helps the company to transition to a more focused offer in the medium term by using economies of scale throughout the supply chain,” chief executive Markus Tacke said.
SGRE plans serial production of the new onshore platform in 2019, after design certification and a prototype installation planned for 2018.
The OEM also launched an upgrade to its direct-drive offshore platform, the SG 8.0-167 DD with a rotor diameter of 167 metres that will allow for a 18% greater swept area and up to 20% higher annual yield than the SWT-7.0-154.
The company didn’t specify, however, how the larger-rotor machine compares to the SWT-8.0-154, an 8MW model with a smaller rotor launched already in 2016. A prototype of that model was erected at the Osterild test site in Denmark in January.
The SG 8.0-167 DD is expected to be market-ready in 2020.
The OEM will supply the new machine for Vattenfall’s 604MW Kriegers Flak project in the Baltic Sea, and the utility’s 350MW nearshore projects in the North Sea (Vesterhav Syd and Nord), as well as for Orsted’s 752MW Borssele 1&2 project in the Netherlands.
“Bigger rotors mean more energy output per wind turbine, which contributes to lowering the cost of lean power,” said Jasper Vis, Orsted’s country manager in the Netherlands.
“Therefore, we have through many years worked closely with the suppliers to introduce still bigger and more efficient turbines, and we look forward to taking the next step at our Borssele offshore wind farm.”
SGRE is collaborating with the Fraunhofer IWES research institute in Bremerhaven, which will perform laboratory tests in its Dynamic Nacelle Testing Laboratory (DyNaLab) in addition to the OEM’s own in-house testing and prototype operation.
“The introduction of the SG 8.0-167 DD shows our continued dedication to industrialising the offshore market,” said Andreas Nauen, chief executive for offshore at SGRE.
“With the rotor upgrade, we offer our customers even higher energy yields at lower wind speeds.”
