Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has now adapted its SG 8.0-167 DD offshore wind turbine for U.S. market conditions.
The new turbine variant for the emerging U.S. offshore wind market is designed to meet the full range of technical conditions present in waters along the U.S. coasts and in the Great Lakes, according to SGRE.
In tailoring the machine to meet U.S. federal codes and standards, SGRE offers technology capable of accommodating hurricanes, seismic activities, 60 Hertz operation, and high and low ambient temperatures. The design of the SG 8.0-167 DD wind turbine will be ready in 2020, with installation possible by 2021, the company notes.
“Contributing to the rapid development of the U.S. offshore wind power market is of great significance to us,” states Andreas Nauen, CEO of SGRE’s offshore business unit. “The new SG 8.0-167 DD variant enables us to supply our customers with an offshore wind turbine based on years of documented performance. Adapting it to fit the unique conditions found along the U.S. East and West coasts and the Great Lakes is a strategic step forward that we believe will position the U.S. industry for success.”
The SG 8.0-167 DD, first introduced last November, has a rated capacity of 8.0 MW and a rotor with a 167-meter diameter. With a swept area of 21,900 square meters, the turbine uses SGRE B81 blades, each measuring 81.4 meters. The machine is also suitable for use with floating foundations.
Last month, the first SG 8.0 167 DD prototype was installed and commissioned according to plan in Østerild, Denmark. Since being introduced seven years ago in 2011, the Siemens Gamesa offshore direct-drive wind turbine platform has accumulated the equivalent of 450 years of combined operation, the company says.
