Siemens announced its 7MW offshore wind turbine deal with DONG Energy to supply 47 direct drive wind turbines, each with a rotor diameter of 154 meters.
This is the first order for the new 7MW offshore wind turbine which will be deployed in the Walney Extension East project in the Irish Sea.
This order is part of the frame agreement concluded between DONG Energy and Siemens in 2012. Siemens and DONG Energy will offer service for the plant for five years.
The capacity of Walney Extension East will be sufficient to supply more than 230,000 British homes with clean energy.
Siemens introduced this upgraded version of 6 MW model into the market last March.
“Our 7 MW turbine will leverage the energy output of the Walney Extension East Offshore Wind Farm and contribute significantly to lowering the cost of offshore wind power,” said Michael Hannibal, CEO Offshore for Siemens´ Wind Power and Renewables Division.
Walney Extension East will be erected off the British west coast in the Irish Sea, approximately 19 kilometers from shore. Installation of the turbines is expected to start at the beginning of 2018. The project is situated next to the Walney 1 and 2 offshore wind power plants, each equipped with 51 Siemens wind turbines with an output of 3.6 megawatts each.
Siemens has already installed more than 5.8 gigawatts of offshore wind power capacity worldwide, with two gigawatts commissioned in the last fiscal year alone.
The company is investing 160 million British pounds in setting up a rotor blade manufacturing facility in Hull and is expected to generate approximately 1,000 direct local jobs.
Rajani Baburajan
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