Siemens Gamesa has unveiled a new 14MW offshore wind turbine equipped with a 222-metre rotor that offers a 25% increase in annual energy production compared to its 11MW predecessor.
The German-Spanish manufacturer said the 14-222 direct drive unit will be commercially available in 2024 and will be able to reach up to 15MW thanks to a power boost feature. A prototype is due to be installed next year.
Blades measuring 108 metres will be cast in one piece using in-house, patented technology and will cover a swept area of 39,000 square metres, the equivalent of 5.5 standard football pitches.
Siemens Gamesa has designed the nacelle at 500 tonnes, which it says is light weight and will enable optimised tower and foundation designs that will lower the cost per unit by minimising sourced materials and reducing transport needs.
The turbine is built on the knowledge gained over five generations since the direct drive offshore platform was launched in 2011, the company added.
“Key components such as safety systems, hub and tower concepts, operations and maintenance solutions, along with a strong, qualified supply chain form the basis of the new offshore wind turbine.”
Each unit will be able to power around 18,000 European households every year, the company said.
“We’ve gone bigger for the better,” declared Siemens Gamesa chief executive Markus Tacke.
“Safely and sustainably providing clean energy for our customers and society-at-large is at the core of all we do. The new SG 14-222 DD helps all of us take giant steps towards protecting and preserving our planet.”
Offshore unit chief executive Andreas Nauen added the turbine demonstrates the company’s desire to continue to reduce the levelized cost of energy.
“The SG 14-222 DD demonstrates our drive to lead the way in a world powered by clean energy. In fact, just one unit will avoid approx. 1.4 million tons of CO2 emissions compared to coal-fired power generation over the course of its projected 25-year lifetime,” he added.