Siemens Starts Operating its First 6 MW Wind Turbine
Siemens Energy has installed the first prototype of its next generation offshore wind turbine in Høvsøre, Denmark, and has initiated the first trial operation. The new SWT-6.0-120 wind turbine with a power rating of 6 megawatts (MW) and a rotor diameter of 120 m uses the innovative Siemens direct drive technology. Nacelle and rotor of the SWT-6.0-120 weigh together less than 350 t, setting a new low-weight standard for large offshore machines.
The new SWT-6.0-120 is the third direct drive wind turbine type developed by Siemens. “In tendency large wind turbines have always been heavier per megawatt than small ones. The SWT-6.0-120 breaks this rule, having a weight per megawatt similar to that of many turbines in the 2 to 3 MW range”, says Henrik Stiesdal, chief technology officer of the Siemens Wind Power Business Unit. “Reaching this low weight with a strong and robust machine is the result of targeted innovation combined with our more than thirty years of wind industry experience”, Stiesdal adds.