REpower Systems SE has signed a contract with PNE WIND AG to deliver 54 offshore wind turbines. The 6M turbines, each with 6,150 kW of rated power, are intended for the Gode Wind I wind farm.
The project is based in the German North Sea, around 35 km north of the East Frisian Islands in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Germany. This is the biggest-ever offshore project with REpower turbines and one of the world’s biggest open-sea projects with turbines in the multi-megawatt class.
The wind turbines are set to be installed and commissioned in 2015. At the Gode Wind I site, the water is between 28 and 34 metres deep. Andreas Nauen, CEO of REpower Systems SE, stated: “We are delighted that PNE, one of the most successful German developers, is placing its trust in our 6M. PNE is also one of the first developers in Germany to switch to multi-megawatt turbines with an output in excess of 5 MW. This is a real breakthrough, particularly for the numerous future projects in even deeper water.”
Frank Zimmermann, head of the Offshore business unit at REpower, added: “REpower has many years of experience in delivering and commissioning offshore turbines. With Gode Wind I, we are taking the next step and assuming responsibility for other aspects including the entire port and ship operations during the construction phase for our turbines.”
Thorsten Fastenau, Vice President Offshore at PNE WIND AG : “Both REpower and PNE WIND have since built up extensive experience in the offshore sector. This is why Gode Wind I is developed to an extent that allowed us to submit the documents for the necessary consent for mains connection to grid operator TenneT following the speedy conclusion of the contract – because in addition to the supply contract agreements regarding the transformer station, the foundations and the wind farm’s internal cabling are already complete.”
The REpower 6M to date is the most powerful wind turbine ever to be installed on the high seas anywhere in the world. The turbine is produced in Bremerhaven. From there, the components can be transported directly to their destination on the high seas. In 2009, three prototypes of the REpower 6M were installed onshore at the Ellhöft wind farm, near the German-Danish border. The first turbines installed offshore were recently erected in the Belgian Thornton Bank wind project. REpower has already sold 150 of this type of turbine, including Gode Wind.
With 6,150 kW of rated power, an individual turbine installed offshore can supply more than 6,000 households with electricity. As it has 332 megawatts of rated power, the Gode Wind I wind farm will therefore provide power to at least 324,000 households.
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Offshore WIND staff, March 27, 2012; Image: repower