Apr 05 | 2019
170-meter Blade Sets Precedent for Onshore Segment
Equipment manufacturer Siemens Gamesa has launched the largest turbine rotor in the industry, spurring new requirements for project cargo handlers in the wind sector.
The giant Siemens Gamesa 5.X platform features a 170-meter rotor blade that offers the potential to increase the annual energy production per turbine by more than 32 percent.
“The new Siemens Gamesa 5.X's high and flexible power rating coupled with the two rotor options make this platform suitable for any kind of site across the globe. Designed for future modular upgrades to meet the evolving demands of the market, it will allow the company to assist customers in reaching their profitability goals through best-in-class performance and LCoE,” said Mark Albenze, onshore and service CEO at SGRE.
Breakbulk Challenges
Rotor blade size has been steadily increasing across the industry in recent years, posing a number of challenges for breakbulk operators and this trend is unlikely to abate however as longer blades equate to greater efficiency and net power gains for windfarm operators.
The Siemens Gamesa blade sets a new precedent for the onshore segment and has been designed for operation in high-, medium- and low-wind conditions. Siemens notes that the SG 5.8-170 provides an increase of more than 37 percent in the swept area.
The size increase is particularly relevant for onshore transport as many deliveries have to pass built up areas by road and the increase in blade length for projects creates issues for clearance and routing.
Production scheduled 2020
While the new platform is designed for onshore deployment it will feature integrated advanced control technologies and strategies from Siemens Gamesa’s offshore products as well These include a doubly-fed generator, partial converter and a compact drive train designed with a three-stage gearbox.
“The first prototype installation of the SG 5.8-155 is planned for mid-2020, and production is scheduled to commence in Q4 2020. For the SG 5.8-170, the first prototype is planned for Q3 2020 and production will start in Q1 2021,” Albenze adds.
Two-year Anniversary
The new Siemens Gamesa platform encompasses two turbine models -the SG 5.8-155 and the SG 5.8-170. The first of these will deliver a 20 percent increase in Annual Energy Production and the latter a 32 percent increase.
“Today we are celebrating our second anniversary. I cannot imagine a better way to do it than by announcing the launch of this new platform — tangible proof of Siemens Gamesa’s commitment to innovation and R&D,” said Markus Tacke, CEO of SGRE.
Photo: Platform 5.X turbine. Credit: Siemens Gamesa
The giant Siemens Gamesa 5.X platform features a 170-meter rotor blade that offers the potential to increase the annual energy production per turbine by more than 32 percent.
“The new Siemens Gamesa 5.X's high and flexible power rating coupled with the two rotor options make this platform suitable for any kind of site across the globe. Designed for future modular upgrades to meet the evolving demands of the market, it will allow the company to assist customers in reaching their profitability goals through best-in-class performance and LCoE,” said Mark Albenze, onshore and service CEO at SGRE.
Breakbulk Challenges
Rotor blade size has been steadily increasing across the industry in recent years, posing a number of challenges for breakbulk operators and this trend is unlikely to abate however as longer blades equate to greater efficiency and net power gains for windfarm operators.
The Siemens Gamesa blade sets a new precedent for the onshore segment and has been designed for operation in high-, medium- and low-wind conditions. Siemens notes that the SG 5.8-170 provides an increase of more than 37 percent in the swept area.
The size increase is particularly relevant for onshore transport as many deliveries have to pass built up areas by road and the increase in blade length for projects creates issues for clearance and routing.
Production scheduled 2020
While the new platform is designed for onshore deployment it will feature integrated advanced control technologies and strategies from Siemens Gamesa’s offshore products as well These include a doubly-fed generator, partial converter and a compact drive train designed with a three-stage gearbox.
“The first prototype installation of the SG 5.8-155 is planned for mid-2020, and production is scheduled to commence in Q4 2020. For the SG 5.8-170, the first prototype is planned for Q3 2020 and production will start in Q1 2021,” Albenze adds.
Two-year Anniversary
The new Siemens Gamesa platform encompasses two turbine models -the SG 5.8-155 and the SG 5.8-170. The first of these will deliver a 20 percent increase in Annual Energy Production and the latter a 32 percent increase.
“Today we are celebrating our second anniversary. I cannot imagine a better way to do it than by announcing the launch of this new platform — tangible proof of Siemens Gamesa’s commitment to innovation and R&D,” said Markus Tacke, CEO of SGRE.
Photo: Platform 5.X turbine. Credit: Siemens Gamesa
