The 2 manufacturers of the brands Siemens and Gamesa, which merged at the beginning of the year, have announced in a presentation the first machines to jointly develop.
They want to cover different areas so They have developed one for onshore installation and another for offshore commissioning.
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy ,the new merged multinational, abbreviated SGRE, have announced their 2 models; the wind turbine SG 4.2-145 and SG 8.0-167 DD.
SG 4.2-145
This model is equipped with multiplier and framed within the new Siemens Gamesa 4.X platform and its production is 4,2 MW.
According to SGRE, “it offers the most competitive cost of energy (LCoE) for sites with medium winds within the 4 MW segment and increases annual energy production by 21% ».
With a nominal power of 4,2 MW and a rotor of 145 meters, This wind turbine has been designed for medium winds, although, the manufacturer points out, it is capable of adapting "to a wide range of sites".
The new model “is based on proven concepts, including a three-stage multiplier and a double-feed induction generator (DFIG), and incorporates the experience accumulated by both companies in the installation of nearly 72.000 megawatts on Earth worldwide. »According to Siemens.
By being part of the Siemens Gamesa 4.X platform, The company is currently developing new models for low and medium winds, with rotors of 132 and above 150 meters.
The company explains that the new offers “maximum flexibility in terms of its power range, which can be adjusted between 4 and 4,4 MW, as well as different tower configurations for hub heights of 107,5; 127,5 and 157,5 meters ».
As Siemens states in its presentation, the blade of this machine, measuring 71 meters, “minimizes the risks of aerodynamic profile design thanks to its validation in a wind tunnel; In addition, thanks to its high thickness at the root of the blade, the blade achieves a reduced mass at minimum cost ”, so the rope reductions in the intermediate sections limit the maximum loads and an optimized blade tip mitigates the noise level (106,9 dB at full load).
The first prototype is scheduled to be installed in the fall of 2018, while the type certificate is expected in early 2019, in addition to starting production for that same year.
SG 8.0-167 DD
It is an 8 MW wind turbine, it has direct drive technology, that is, it has a direct drive and its rotor is 167 meters. Its B82 blades offer an 18% greater sweep area.
According to the German-Spanish multinational, the new marine "giant" (known as SG 8.0-167 DD) will offer 20% more energy production annually than its predecessor, the SWT-7.0-154.
These new marine turbines "incorporate the proven technology of the direct drive platform, combined with a new rotor of greater dimensions, to offer their customers greater profitability while minimizing the costs and associated risks", reports Siemens.
In 2017, the first prototype was installed in Østerild, Denmark, where a validation program focused on the electrical system is being carried out.
Siemens Gamesa, collaborates with the Fraunhofer IWES institute in Bremerhaven (Germany) in order to accelerate its commercial availability.
Therefore, in addition to the internal tests that are being carried out, the wind turbine will also have tests on the latest generation DyNaLab (Dynamyc Nacelle Testing Laboratory) test bench.
SGRE reports that "the exhaustive validation program, which will begin in spring 2018 and end at the end of the same year, will include simulations of loads and grid connection compliance."
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
As you may have noticed, SGRE has accepted the name of its product based on the name of the company with the first 2 letters (SG), then completed with the nominal power of each model and ending with the size of the rotor, SG 4.2 -145 and SG 8.0-167 DD.
The acronym DD at the end is to indicate that they have direct drive technology.
The Services division of the German-Spanish multinational has also announced that increases its multi-technology offer "To reduce the operating costs of wind farms", the SGRE Services division has announced that it is expanding its offer of solutions for wind turbines from other manufacturers.
SGRE says: "It will not only perform maintenance but also life extension and retrofit tasks to increase annual energy production."
As an alternative to repowering, says Siemens, SGRE solutions “allow to extend the useful life of wind turbines beyond 20 years, a particularly attractive option in countries with old wind farms in northern Europe, Spain, China and India, among others. others".