Siemens Gamesa sends newly-launched 11 MW offshore turbine to Dutch project

Spanish wind turbine manufacturing giant Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy unveiled a “newly-flexed” 11MW offshore wind turbine, and quickly announced a turbine supply contract with Vattenfall to supply the machines to the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm zone.

“The SG 11.0-193 DD Flex is another example of how Siemens Gamesa constantly works to improve performance and provide greater value for our customers, ratepayers, and society-at-large,” said Andreas Nauen, CEO of the Siemens Gamesa Offshore Business Unit.

“Digitalization allows us to increase the capacity of our current largest machine to 11MW, boosting its annual energy production, while keeping the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) down. In turn our customers can deliver more clean, reliable energy to end-users at lower overall prices.”

The new SG 11.0-193 DD Flex boasts a 193-meter diameter rotor and 94-meter long Siemens Gamesa B94 Integral Blades, while “constant digital observations are processed by the control system, increasing capacity up to 11 MW.”

A day later Siemens Gamesa and Swedish energy company Vattenfall announced they had extended the previously-signed Hollandse Kust Zuid  (roughly translated Dutch Coast South) turbine supply to cover the entire Hollandse Kust Zuid (HKZ) wind farm zone which includes HKZ 1 & 2 and HKZ 3 & 4 – both of which were awarded contracts at zero subsidy by Dutch authorities.

The 700MW HKZ 1 & 2 and the 760MW HKZ 3 & 4 were originally contracted to utilise Siemens Gamesa’s 10 MW offshore wind turbines, but on Wednesday the two companies announced they would modify the turbine supply contract to utilise Siemens Gamesa’s new SG 11.0-193 DD Flex turbines.

The HKZ wind farm zone was originally planned to be fitted with approximately 140 of Siemens Gamesa’s offshore wind turbines, but by increasing the capacity of the turbines to 11 MW fewer turbines will be needed resulting in a reduction in installation, operations, and maintenance costs, further reducing the Levelised Cost of Electricity for the offshore wind projects.

”Our robust cooperation with Vattenfall becomes even more powerful with this conditional order,” said Andreas Nauen. “The newest version of our largest offshore Direct Drive machine is now setting the benchmark for turbines in subsidy-free offshore wind power projects.

“By deploying one of the largest and most efficient turbines ever for the first subsidy-free offshore wind farm to date, Vattenfall is underlining its position as a leader in the offshore wind industry,” added Gunnar Groebler, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Wind at Vattenfall.

“It’s a major step for Vattenfall in realising its mission to enable fossil free living within one generation.”