Siemens today announced the installation of direct-drive low wind prototype turbine in Drantum wind test site in Jutland, Denmark.
The onshore model SWT-3.15-142, with a rotor diameter of 142 meters and tower configurations allows hub heights of up to 165 meters and 69 meter rotor blades will set new standards in energy yield.
The IEC Class IIIA wind turbine is the first Siemens model to be equipped with rotor blades based on hybrid-carbon technology.
The low wind turbine SWT-3.15-142 is part of the onshore direct drive product platform and uses the same nacelle as other models like the SWT-3.6-130 including major components like the hub, generator, cooling- and electrical systems.
Settings of the Siemens Integrated Control System (SICS) and the lightweight 142 meter rotor allow the new SWT-3.15-142 to reach an outstanding efficiency. Even at average wind speeds of only six meters per second, it harvests an energy yield of ten gigawatt hours per year.
“With LM’s hybrid-carbon blades and our successful direct drive technology this model incorporates proven and highly efficient technology in all components and we are confident that we can maintain short time to market and have this product ready for serial production by the end of 2017,” said Morten Pilgaard Rasmussen, head of Technology at Siemens Wind Power.
Siemens Wind Power has completed the installation of the SWT-3.15-142 with the rotor lift last week. The company will finish the commissioning work with the turbine and it will be operational by the end of March. Siemens Wind Power said the focus of the testing program of the prototype is on blade and performance evaluation.