Offshore wind turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa introduces a new 14 MW model, claiming it as the world's largest.
Siemens Gamesa, the world's leading supplier of offshore wind turbines, has made a significant leap in the renewable energy sector with the launch of its new 14-megawatt offshore wind turbine, the SG 14-236. This turbine boasts a rotor diameter that is 10% larger than its previous model, making it the largest wind turbine ever publicly announced.
The new turbine, designed for offshore wind farms, is part of Siemens Gamesa's iterative approach to increasing the size of its wind turbines. Over the past eight years, the technology platform has been upgraded, ensuring a familiar feel for existing customers.
Bigger turbines could be the best choice for developers facing high installation costs due to tricky seabed conditions or long distances to shore. However, permitting issues related to visibility might limit the option for some customers.
Siemens Gamesa expects to install a prototype of the new 14-megawatt model in Denmark by fall 2021. Morten Pilgaard Rasmussen, head of offshore technology at Siemens Gamesa, expects the first orders for the new turbine to be confirmed soon.
In the race for the largest offshore turbines, Siemens Gamesa's new turbine puts the company back in first place, maintaining a wide lead over No. 2 MHI Vestas. The company has already made offers to a number of global offshore wind developers.
Meanwhile, GE's 12-megawatt Haliade-X platform, revealed in 2018, secured its first orders the following year. A 14-megawatt version of GE's Haliade-X has been referenced in permitting documents, but Siemens Gamesa's 14-222 DD model has a slightly larger rotor diameter and can increase its rating to 15 megawatts using a "Power Boost" function.
Both Siemens Gamesa's and GE's 14-megawatt turbines could see their first projects commissioned around the same time. However, the size of the wind turbines might be limited by financial concerns, as Rasmussen declined to comment on how big turbines might get in the future, but neither he nor Barla can see the technology facing an unsurpassable ceiling.
France will host a floating-only offshore wind tender to enable projects to be built farther out to sea, providing a potential market for these larger turbines. Developers will choose the best fit for their conditions, and Siemens Gamesa's iterative approach has left it with a wide range of options for sale.
In easier-to-deploy settings, smaller machines may make the most economic sense. Installation vessels may struggle with even larger machines than the 14-megawatt turbines. ENOVA, actively developing and financing wind projects, is planning project startups for 2027 and 2028, with the first repowering projects involving Siemens Gamesa turbines expected to be operational by mid-2027.
In conclusion, Siemens Gamesa's new 14-megawatt offshore wind turbine represents a significant step forward in the renewable energy sector. With its larger rotor diameter and familiar technology platform, it offers a promising solution for developers facing high installation costs. As the race for the largest offshore turbines continues, financial concerns might set the limit for the size of wind turbines, but the technology is expected to continue evolving.
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