Siemens Gamesa 5.X – 3D view (SG 5.8-155 and SG 5.8-170)

Both turbines can now offer greater annual energy production made possible in part through using a modular, flexible design to ease logistics, construction, operation and maintenance costs, as well as reducing the operating expenditures.

Both turbines combine a flexible power rating from 5.6 MW to 6.6 MW with two of the largest rotor diameters in the market, 155 and 170 m. The new rating, together with the biggest rotor in the industry, configures the Siemens Gamesa 5.X as the highest yielding onshore turbine in the industry.

The company signed its first contract for the Siemens Gamesa 5.X platform for the 231-MW Skaftaasen project in late 2019. Since then, the company has sold almost 3 GW of the platform.

“The reception of the Siemens Gamesa 5.X platform has shown this is a competitive technology delivering an attractive LCoE for our customers. Technology like this helps Siemens Gamesa to unlock the full potential of wind by increasing the power output of our turbines and deliver more pioneering solutions in the onshore sector,” said Lars Bondo Krogsgaard, CEO of Siemens Gamesa’s onshore business.

The first prototypes of the Siemens Gamesa 5.X, the SG 6.6-155 (in Alaiz, Spain) and the SG 6.6-170 (Hovsore, Denmark), are currently up and connected and in the testing phase.

News item from Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy

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A competitive solicitation process identified Siemens Gamesa as the optimal supplier based on a combination of cost, performance and proven track record as one of the world’s leading suppliers. Once completed, the offshore wind project located 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach will produce enough zero-carbon electricity to power 650,000 Virginia homes at rated wind speed.

As part of the preferred supplier agreement, Siemens Gamesa will supply the latest turbines from its proven Offshore Direct Drive platform with the final turbine numbers to be determined during a later phase of the early development period. The agreement will support the submission of the project’s Construction and Operations Plan (COP) to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in late 2020. In addition, Siemens Gamesa and Dominion Energy will work together to evaluate offshore wind supply chain development opportunities in Virginia as part of an effort to reduce project costs for the benefit of customers.

“Siemens Gamesa is a global leader in offshore wind technology and has proven to be a great partner in our CVOW project,” said Mark D. Mitchell, Dominion Energy’s VP of generation construction. “We look forward to continuing our relationship as we bring clean, renewable energy to our customers and support Governor Ralph Northam’s commitment to have Virginia lead the way in offshore wind.”

The project will be located on 112,800 acres off the coast of Virginia Beach that Dominion Energy secured via lease from BOEM in 2013. Ocean survey work, required by BOEM, will begin this year and will be incorporated into the Construction and Operations Plan.

“Virginia aims to become a national leader in offshore wind, and we are encouraged to see progress toward that goal,” Northam said. “For Virginia, it’s about two things: Jobs and a cleaner environment. Wind energy is one of our top economic priorities and a critical component of Virginia’s clean energy strategy, and this is an important step forward.”

The company began construction in June on a pilot offshore wind power project, the initial step in designing and building the larger commercial offshore wind development. The two 6-MW turbines manufactured by Siemens Gamesa will be installed this spring and are on schedule to come online later this year. Dominion Energy will leverage key learnings from the permitting, design and development of that project as it goes through a similar process for the commercial offshore wind development.

“Virginia state agencies have been tasked to develop a plan to produce 30% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Offshore wind is a fast-growing and important contributor to meet this goal,” said Steve Dayney, head of Offshore North America at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. “We have always believed that the demonstration project is a gateway to something bigger and now Virginia is poised to benefit from wide-ranging economic benefits this project will bring.”

Dominion Energy’s offshore wind projects are part of the company’s comprehensive clean energy strategy, with a goal of reducing carbon emissions from its electric fleet by 55% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. To accomplish this goal, the company is rapidly expanding solar and wind energy across Virginia, in partnership with zero-carbon nuclear and low-carbon natural gas. Additionally, the company is investing in battery storage, pumped hydroelectric storage and other resources that can support the intermittent nature of solar and wind.

Dominion Energy is also partnering with the nation’s largest hog and dairy farmers to turn agricultural waste into clean energy for U.S. consumers. The company’s industry-leading partnership with Smithfield Foods and its recently announced strategic partnership with Vanguard Renewables will generate enough clean energy to heat nearly 100,000 American homes and will substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. farms.

News item from Dominion Energy

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Elbow Creek, a 122-MW wind farm located in Howard County, Texas, originally completed in 2008, began post-repowering operations in November. Construction for the repowering was led by Mortenson and turbine equipment was provided by Siemens Gamesa.

Clearway Energy Group repowered the 122-MW Elbow Creek wind farm in Howard County, Texas. 

“The completion of this project is a major milestone for all of us at Clearway and a testament to the strength and promise of the flourishing Texas wind industry,” said Craig Cornelius, CEO of Clearway Energy Group. “We are grateful for the support and expertise of our partners, Siemens Gamesa and Mortenson, in completing this project and investing in the Lone Star State’s clean energy future.”

“Since entering the wind energy market in 1995, our experience has led us into this next phase of repowering turbines to extend their life cycle,” said Tim Maag, VP and general manager at Mortenson. “We were delighted to be selected by Clearway to repower the Elbow Creek Wind Project. To date, we have completed 34 new wind energy projects in Texas. With the completion of Elbow Creek, we have repowered four projects in the state.”

Repowering extended the life of Elbow Creek and lowered operations and maintenance costs through enhancements with modern turbine equipment. Repowering Elbow Creek created more than seventy jobs during construction and generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in local spending. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that in the United States, annual repowering investments could reach $25 billion by 2030.

“Repowering projects with updated technology offer an opportunity to not only extend the life of a wind project but also extend the benefits to local communities. We are proud to have contributed the turbines to the Elbow Creek wind project and to work with Clearway,” said Jose Antonio Miranda, CEO of Onshore Americas, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.

News item from Clearway Energy Group

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