Siemens Gamesa reveals 8MW newbie

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has launched a new 8MW offshore model that features a 167-metre rotor.

The SG 8.0-167 DD model has blades that allow for an 18% greater swept area and up to 20% higher annual energy production than its SWT-7.0-154 predecessor, Siemens Gamesa said.

The company added that the new turbine re-uses proven components from the predecessor that allows a “short time to market”.

A prototype 8MW machine with a smaller rotor was installed and commissioned in January at the Østerild test site in Denmark, with a prototype with a 167-metre rotor to be installed at the site next year. 

The SG 8.0-167 DD model is expected to be market ready in 2020, with Danish outfit Orsted planning to deploy the new turbine at the 752MW Borssele 1&2 offshore wind farm in the Dutch North Sea. 

Siemens Gamesa has also unveiled a new 4.2MW model with a 145-metre rotor in its onshore range. The SG 4.2-145 machines offers 21% annual energy production than the G132-3.465MW unit at medium wind sites, the company said.

A prototype will be deployed in autumn 2018, with certification expected in 2019. Start of production will be in early 2019, it added.

Further models for high and low-wind sites with rotor diameters of 132 and above 150 metres are under development, Siemens Gamesa added.

The turbines are part of the company’s “One Segment/One Technology” philosophy announced in early November, whereby the company aims to have one technology per business segment by 2020.

The company also announced at the WindEurope 2017 conference and trade fair that its service business unit is expanding its capabilities to cover third party technology.

Siemens Gamesa said this includes life extension and retrofit solutions, as well as maintenance.

Image: Siemens Gamesa