Gamesa’s 5MW Offshore Turbine Beats Spanish Monthly Output Record

Gamesa’s G128-5.0 MW Offshore, installed off Arinaga Quay (Gran Canary Island), generated more power in August (3,136 MWh) than any other other Spanish turbine has ever generated in a month.

This milestone was possible thanks to the tremendous reliability of this model, capable of withstanding the regional trade winds typical at this time of the year and which blow consistently at over 14 metres per second.

In addition, the 3,136 MWh generated by the G128-5.0 MW Offshore in August is equivalent to the energy needed to supply more than 10,800 Spanish households over the same timeframe and is 25% above this turbine’s last monthly record, reached in July of this year. Average capacity was 4.27 MW in August, which, given the turbine’s nominal capacity, implies a load factor of 85.4%, significantly above the capacity utilisation rates typical of turbines with such high nominal capacities.

This turbine, which was commissioned in July 2013, is Gamesa’s first offshore prototype and also the first installed in Spain. These excellent results have enabled type certification of this model in record time and evidence the high availability and performance metrics offered by this product, targeted at the offshore market.

In July of this year Gamesa and AREVA signed binding agreements for the creation of a global leader in the burgeoning offshore wind energy industry. The joint venture will start life with a 2.8 GW pipeline and the goal of achieving a market share in Europe of close to 20% by 2020.

The transaction is expected to close by the fourth quarter of this year, subject to certain closing conditions, such as approval by the French government and the anti-trust authorities.

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