Vattenfall has awarded Siemens Energy an order for 72 Model SWT-4.0-130 wind turbines for its new Sandbank offshore wind farm.
The project is being erected 90 kilometers west of the island of Sylt in water depths between 25 and 37 meters within the exclusive economic zone off the German North Sea coast. A pioneering service plan for the project will generate synergy from its close vicinity to DanTysk offshore wind farm, utilizing joint operations to drive down the maintenance costs of both projects.
Vattenfall has contracted Siemens to perform maintenance services on the Sandbank installations for an initial period of five years. Service operations will center on a Service Operation Vessel (SOV) specially designed for these deployments. Following project commissioning, this specialized ship fitted with living accommodations for technicians and a workshop equipped with spare parts on board will take up position between the two wind farms.
The wind turbines themselves will also contribute significantly to increasing efficiency and lowering costs at the Sandbank project. Siemens’ Model SWT-4.0-130 wind turbines ordered for the project represent the latest generation of the Siemens G4 platform wind turbines. They combine the proven technology of the most-built offshore wind turbine series – over 900 units worldwide rated at 3.6 megawatts are in operation – with a significantly enhanced power output of 4 megawatts at comparable maintenance costs.
What is more, the unit’s rotor – measuring 130 meters in diameter – delivers optimum energy yield even at low and moderate wind speeds. The advanced rotor blades also contribute to efficiency: The 63-meter-long aeroelastic blades are designed to be flexible under high wind loads, and can therefore be manufactured with up to 20 percent reduced mass compared to conventional rotor blades. Hence, once commissioned at the end of 2016, Sandbank will count among the most modern offshore wind farms anywhere in the world. Construction is scheduled to commence in summer 2015.
Markus Tacke, CEO of Siemens Energy’s Wind Power Division , said: “Thanks to Vattenfall’s expertise in project construction and operation and Siemens’ innovative technology and service prowess, Sandbank will boldly demonstrate just how far we’ve come in reducing the costs of offshore wind power.”