• New offshore SWT-8.0-154 turbine with up to 10% higher AEP based on existing offshore direct drive platform
• Direct drive SWT-3.3-130 onshore wind turbine passes type certificate from DNV GL
Siemens’ direct drive wind turbine technology for offshore and onshore wind turbines reaches the next development milestone: The latest addition to the offshore direct drive platform, the SWT-8.0-154, represents yet another significant step towards grid parity for offshore wind. The 8-MW turbine is based on the existing offshore direct drive platform, incorporating only smaller evolutions.
The first SWT-8.0-154 will be installed in early 2017, and will allow for up to 10% higher annual energy production (AEP) under offshore wind conditions as compared to the 7-MW model. Once again, the offshore direct drive platform enables a significant reduction in the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) at low risk. Type certification for the 8-MW turbine is expected to be obtained at the beginning of 2018. At the same time, Siemens’ high performance wind turbine for medium to low onshore wind sites has reached the next milestone: The SWT-3.3-130 has successfully obtained type certification from DNV GL.
The upgrade of the offshore direct drive wind turbine to eight megawatts (MW) is made possible through the introduction of new magnet technology with an even higher grade than that introduced in the SWT-7.0-154. This enables a rated power increase of more than 14% from 7.0 to 8.0 MW. Similar to the previous upgrade from 6.0 MW to 7.0 MW, the 8-MW turbine will benefit from the established supply chain and proven components of offshore direct drive technology. These components include the B75 blade and the medium-voltage transformer of the SWT-8.0-154. Since the higher rating will be achieved with only a few component upgrades, customers will again benefit from fast time-to-market and low risk as the key value drivers.
“We are relentlessly working on lowering the levelized cost of energy, and the offshore direct drive platform enables us to do this with the lowest possible risk,” says Michael Hannibal, CEO for Offshore at Siemens’ Wind Power and Renewables Division. “With the same proven reliability as our successful 6 and 7-MW models, the SWT-8.0-154 will be the new benchmark for gearless offshore wind technology on the market.”
