GL RC Certifies New Siemens 6MW Turbine for Gunfleet Sands Testing (Germany)

Siemens Wind Power has received offshore prototype certification from GL Renewables Certification (GL RC) for testing its new 6 megawatt offshore wind turbine at DONG Energy’s Gunfleet Sands III demonstration project in the UK. This will be the first offshore test of this new offshore wind turbine.

Morten Pilgaard Rasmussen, Head of Research & Development at Siemens Wind Power received the Prototype Certificate from Axel Dombrowski, GL RC’s Head of Department Machinery Components and Electrical Engineering, at Siemens’ R&D Headquarters in Brande, Denmark. The Prototype Certificate confirms the wind turbine design’s compliance with the requirements of the GL Guideline for offshore wind turbines Edition 2005.

Siemens developed the SWT-6.0 specifically for the demanding conditions in offshore locations. The first unit was installed in 2011 at the Høvsøre test site in Denmark with a 120 m rotor. It has now operated for well over a year, setting new production records during the testing. The second 6-MW-prototype with a 154 m rotor was installed in 2012 at the new national test center at Østerild, Denmark. In January 2013, Siemens installed two additional SWT-6.0 prototypes in the British offshore wind power plant at DONG Energy`s demonstration project Gunfleet Sands III. Both machines for this project are equipped with the 120 m rotor.

GL RC has also been contracted to carry out the type certification of the offshore turbine and is currently involved in the design evaluation process. Type certification is required in many countries around the world and is often a condition to apply for international wind power plant tenders.

Recently, GL RC published its new “Guideline for the Certification of Offshore Wind Turbines” Edition 2012. The Guideline was compiled in cooperation with its Wind and Marine Energy Committee. The updated guideline tracks the main developments in the offshore wind industry, for example, the increased size of turbines and mitigation of loads using advanced, intelligent control systems. Every aspect of development from blade tip, to foundation and power export cable is considered and it also provides a fully integrated design and analysis concept for offshore wind turbines.

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Press release, March 5, 2013; Image: GL