
With its 69-m blades, the low-wind SWT-3.15-142 has a rotor diameter of 142 m and is approved for testing.
Siemens‘ new direct-drive, low-wind turbine has reached the prototype testing stage. The onshore model SWT-3.15-142, with a rotor diameter of 142 meters has successfully passed prototype approval and has now been erected at the Drantum wind test site in Jutland, Denmark.
The IEC Class IIIA turbine is the first Siemens model to be equipped with rotor blades based on hybrid-carbon technology. With tower configurations allowing hub heights of up to 165 and 69-m rotor blades, the SWT-3.15-142 will set new standards in energy yield.
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, such as the SWT-3.6-130. It includes major components such as the hub, generator, cooling, and electrical systems.
“In our extended onshore product portfolio, the SWT-3.15-142 plays an important role, since it is our first IEC Class IIIA wind turbine for this platform,” said Morten Pilgaard Rasmussen, Head of Technology at Siemens Wind Power.
Specific settings of the Siemens Integrated Control System (SICS) and the lightweight 142-m rotor allow the new SWT-3.15-142 to reach an outstanding efficiency. Even at average wind speeds of only 6-m per second, it harvests an energy yield of 10 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,” added Rasmussen.
Installation of the SWT-3.15-142 was recently completed with the rotor lift. Commissioning work will be finished with the turbine being fully operational by the end of March. The focus of the testing program of the prototype is on blade and performance evaluation.
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