Siemens has recently installed a second SWT-7.0-154 turbine for field testing, with both 7MW prototype turbines currently undergoing grid performance, quality and safety trials.
Siemens’ flagship offshore wind turbine received final type certification from DNV GL in January, the final milestone in the development process, allowing customers to make final investment decisions for offshore projects.
Since many of the technological components in this new turbine are the same as those of the Siemens SWT-6.0-154 – including the 154-meter rotor – serial production is scheduled to begin in autumn 2017.
While the first prototype, installed in summer 2015, was initially used for achieving the final type certificate, engineers are now able to use both prototypes for accelerated testing of all grid-related aspects such as performance, quality and safety.
As the upgrades in the turbine consist mainly of changes to the permanent magnet generator, the power converter and medium voltage transformer, the startup of both SWT-7.0-154 prototypes ran smoothly, Siemens said.
“The development of our SWT-7.0-154 has reached the final stage and we are well on track,” said Morten Rasmussen, Head of Technology at Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division.
“We are proud to see our customers welcoming the upgrade, and ultimately it is our customers who will benefit from these improvements. Serial production will be ramped up in autumn 2017.”
First orders are already in place for the new project including the Walney Extension East project in the UK to be installed in early 2018, as well as the 28MW pilot project to be developed by Nissum Bredning Vindmøllelaug off Rønland in Denmark.