The two next-generation Siemens 6MW offshore wind turbines at the Gunfleet Sands demonstration project in the UK have produced the first power.
DONG Energy will use Siemens 6MW wind turbines commercially for the first time at Westermost Rough off the Yorkshire coast in the United Kingdom and has recently entered an agreement with Siemens to supply 154 6MW turbines for the German Gode Vind projects.
Benj Sykes, DONG Energy Wind Power’s UK Country Manager commented:
“The Gunfleet Sands demonstration project is a significant step in our work to reduce the cost of energy in offshore wind, and we’re now looking forward to greatly increasing our understanding of the operational performance of these turbines and using the learnings to inform the wider roll out of this technology in the UK over the coming years.”
The two Siemens 6MW turbines at the Gunfleet Sands demonstration site will be the first to use the direct drive technology. It is therefore an essential objective of this project to test the performance and reliability of the direct drive technology. It is also the intention to test new developments which can be used in a broader perspective on other projects in the DONG Energy portfolio.
The demonstration site is located approximately 8.5km southeast of Clacton-on-Sea, next to Gunfleet Sands 1 and 2.
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Press release, April 18, 2013; Image: DONG Energy