Gemini, the largest offshore wind farm in The Netherlands, located 55 kilometers above the island Schiermonnikoog in the North Sea, will generate an additional 250.000MWh annual green electricity.
This is 10% more than was originally expected, and is sufficient energy to meet the consumption of approximately 75,000 extra households. This is the direct result of Typhoon Offshore’s decision to select and deploy an upgraded version of the well-known Siemens SWT-3.6 wind turbine with a power rating of 4 megawatts (MW) in the Gemini project. This wind turbine is ideal for the rough wind conditions prevailing where Gemini is located. Typhoon Offshore, the innovative investor in sustainable energy, announced today that Siemens will supply 150 of these wind turbines to Gemini.
Typhoon Offshore has worked since 2009 on realizing Gemini, the largest (600MW) sustainable energy project of The Netherlands located in the North Sea, 55 kilometers above Schiermonnikoog. Having selected Van Oord as the wind farm’s balance of plant contractor in March 2011, Typhoon Offshore announced today it selected Siemens as the project’s preferred wind turbine supplier. This is an important decision because it clears the path to the final investment decisions and commencing start of construction.
Extra revenues
The latest generation of Siemens wind turbines generate power in all wind conditions, thereby increasing the performance range. Van der Heijden : “We have chosen Siemens wind turbines because they are a perfect fit for the Gemini project site. Siemens has a proven offshore track record like no other company. The Gemini project will generate an extra 250.000MWh annually.”
Siemens
“We are pleased to be selected as preferred supplier by Typhoon Offshore and we are looking forward to work on the Gemini project.” said Michael Hannibal, Head of Offshore, Siemens Wind Power Business Unit EMEA . Siemens is the leading supplier of offshore wind turbines with more than 720 wind turbines with a combined capacity of 2100 MW installed offshore.
New design wind farm
Typhoon Offshore instructed its project team to redesign the wind farm. Van der Heijden : “This wind turbine did not exist when Gemini was originally designed. The original design was based on a 5MW wind turbine, requiring 120 turbine foundations. Our choice for the Siemens turbine means 150 turbine foundations will be placed in the same area. That explains why we had to redesign the entire wind farm.”
Finance
Van der Heijden: ”It is our task to secure the funds required to realize the wind farm. That is why we want the wind farm to produce as much power as possible, at the lowest cost. Gemini is now designed in such a way that investors are willing to pay for the total development and construction costs. Selecting the right wind turbine is therefore essential. And that is how we make sustainability bankable”.
About Typhoon Offshore
Typhoon Offshore B.V. is the independent energy innovator, specialized in the realization of offshore wind farms in the North Sea. Typhoon Offshore is managing the structuring and financing of Gemini, the largest offshore wind project in The Netherlands located 55 kilometers northeast of the island Schiermonnikoog. The Typhoon Offshore team previously oversaw the arrangements for the financing of the Belwind and Princess Amalia wind farms.
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Offshore WIND staff, April 17, 2012