Erlangen, Germany-based Siemens Power Generation (PG) and the Technical University of Aachen (RWTH) have signed a cooperation agreement for further development of the drivetrain for wind turbines, focusing on efficiency, reliability and service life. A further aim of this long-term project is to assist in recruiting qualified personnel for PG's fast-growing wind power sector, according to the company.
Siemens will be setting up a competence center in Aachen, with a staff of 20 planned for late 2008. The first joint projects with RWTH are planned for January 2008. The Machine Tool Laboratory and the Institute for Machine Elements from RWTH are also included in the cooperation project.
Development will concentrate on a number of fields, including gearbox design, fabrication and analysis. Joint activities with the Institute for Machine Elements will push ahead development of bearings for this application. This is the third cooperation project between a university and Siemens Wind Power.
