Siemens Gamesa Presents Two New Products: Onshore Wind Turbine SG 4.2-145 And SG 8.0-167 DD For Offshore That Increase Annual Energy Production By 20%

• It is the first product launch of the combined company and is part of the strategy "A segment, a technology"
• The new model of terrestrial turbine (onshore) will have 4.2 MW of power and a rotor of 145 meter
• The new marine wind turbine (offshore), with 167 meters rotor and direct drive technology, will offer 20% more annual energy production 
• The Services division will offer multi-technology solutions, extending the scope of its offer to other manufacturers' turbines 

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has combined the experience of two leaders in the wind sector since the merger announced at the beginning of 2017. In this context, the company has announced the launch of the SG 4.2-145 turbine, equipped with a multiplier and framed within the new Siemens Gamesa 4.X platform The SG 4.2-145 model offers the most competitive energy cost (LCoE) for sites with medium winds within the 4MW segment and marks the beginning of a new generation of high performance onshore wind turbines, equipped with a multiplier. This new onshore turbine increases the annual energy production by 21%.

Likewise, SGRE has presented the new offshore wind turbine with direct drive technology SG 8.0-167 DD, with a rotor diameter of 167 meters. The B82 blades offer an 18% higher sweep area and a 20% increase in annual energy production compared to its predecessor, SWT-7.0-154. The new offshore turbine SG 8.0-167 DD incorporates the proven technology of the direct drive platform , combined with a new rotor of greater dimensions, to offer its customers greater profitability while minimizing costs and associated risks.

Both products reflect the new strategy of SGRE "A segment, a technology", announced at the beginning of November. By 2020, the company will have one technology per segment. In onshore wind, Siemens Gamesa will optimize its technological focus and will focus on wind turbines with a multiplier. For its part, in the marine segment, the company will exclusively offer its direct drive platform .

"This strategy will allow us to focus our offer in the medium term and take advantage of the economies of scale of our supply chain, in this way we can offer greater added value to our customers", explains Markus Tacke, CEO of SGRE.

The SG 4.2-145 with multiplier, part of the new platform for the terrestrial segment

The onshore model SG 4.2-145 offers a nominal power of 4.2 MW and a rotor of 145 meters. Designed for medium winds, it adapts to a wide range of locations. 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 about 72 GW onshore worldwide. As part of the Siemens Gamesa 4.X platform, the company is currently developing new models for low and medium winds, with 132 rotors and above 150 meters.

The new wind turbine 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. Two converter options make the turbine meet the most demanding grid connection requirements.

The new 71-meter shovel minimizes aerodynamic profile design risks thanks to its wind tunnel validation. In addition, thanks to its high thickness at the root of the blade, it reaches a reduced mass at minimum cost. 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).

Compared with the G132-3.465 MW model, the new SG 4.2-145 has a 21% higher sweep area, which increases the annual energy production in the same proportion. The installation of the first prototype is scheduled for the fall of 2018, while the type certificate is expected for the beginning of 2019. Production will also begin at the beginning of that year.

"With the new Siemens Gamesa 4.X platform we offer more options to our clients, helping them to maximize the profitability of their assets", says Ricardo Chocarro, CEO for the SGRE onshore business. "The combined experience of both companies allows us to offer the best solutions in the market for turbines of more than 4 MW and for a wide range of sites with medium winds. For sites with low winds we will soon launch a variant with a rotor of more than 150 meters, while for those with high winds the diameter of the rotor will be 132 meters ".

The 8 MW direct drive marine wind turbine , now available with a 167-meter rotor

The new model of the offshore platform, SG 8.0-167 DD, will have a rotor of 167 meters. Based on proven technology, it will allow a reduced market launch time by reusing the components of its predecessor, SWT-7.0-154. In January 2017, the first 8MW prototype was installed and launched in Østerild, Denmark, where a validation program focused on the electrical system is currently underway. In addition, it is expected that a new prototype SG 8.0-167 DD will be installed, also in Østerild, in 2018, in which a validation plan for the blades will be carried out.

The new SG 8.0-167 DD will be available for installation in 2020. To accelerate its commercial availability, Siemens Gamesa collaborates with Fraunhofer IWES in Bremerhaven (Germany). In addition to the internal tests and the operation of the prototype, the 8 MW nacelle will be tested in the latest generation DyNaLab test bench (Dynamyc Nacelle Testing Laboratory). The exhaustive validation program, which will begin in the spring of 2018 and will end at the end of the same year, will include load simulations and network connection compliance.

"The launch of SG 8.0-167 DD demonstrates our commitment to the industrialization of the offshore segment," explains Andreas Nauen, CEO of the Offshore division at SGRE. "With a larger rotor, we can offer our customers more production with less wind, and the flexibility of the platform also makes it possible to reduce the cost of energy with very limited risks," he adds.

As happened with the passage from 7 to 8 MW, the technology of the offshore platform DD allows the reuse of all its components with the exception of the blades. Thanks to various technological improvements in their structural components, the engineers of SGRE have managed to design a shovel of 81.5 meters with a weight increase of less than 20% compared to the previous 75 meters. Both types (B82 and B75) are fiberglass and one piece.

With some 2,500 wind turbines installed in the sea, about 11 GW installed and pioneer projects dating back to 1991, SGRE has the largest record track in the sector among offshore turbine manufacturers. As of September 2017, more than 300 turbines of the direct drive platform have been delivered to various customers. SGRE has extensive experience in this technology, since it has installed more than 2,230 direct drive turbines in almost ten years.

With the release of SG 4.2-145 and SG 8.0-167 DD, SGRE has adopted a product name based on the name of the company, from which the first two letters (SG) come. These acronyms are completed with the nominal power of each model and the size of its rotor. In addition, all variants with direct drive technology incorporate the initials DD at the end.

The Services division increases its multi-technology offer

To reduce the operating costs of wind farms, the SGRE Services division has announced that it is expanding its supply of wind turbine solutions from other manufacturers: it will not only perform maintenance tasks but also extend life and retrofit to increase the annual production of Energy. As an alternative to repowering, SGRE solutions allow the life of wind turbines to be extended beyond 20 years, an especially attractive option in countries with old parks in northern Europe, Spain, China and India, among others.