DNV GL Certifies Siemens 8MW Prototype; Installation in Østerild Upcoming

Siemens has obtained DNV GL’s Prototype Certificate for its SWT-8.0-154 offshore wind turbine, which enables the turbine manufacturer to install the prototype at the test centre in Østerild, Denmark, to demonstrate its performance.

The SWT-8.0-154 turbine was introduced in July 2016, when Siemens said it expected to install the prototype in early 2017.

“We are proud to have received the prototype certificate at this early stage, allowing us to install our SWT-8.0-154 prototype according to plan. The third evolution on the Offshore Direct Drive platform truly marks the move towards industrializing offshore wind power,” said Morten Rasmussen, Head of Siemens Wind Power Technology.

At the Danish test centre, Siemens will perform the measurement campaign for the next phase of the type certification process which is crucial to bring the turbine to the market. Type certification for the 8MW turbine is expected to be obtained at the beginning of 2018.

Mike Wöbbeking, Head of Certification Body Renewables Certification at DNV GL, said: “We are happy that the certification journey of the Siemens direct drive offshore wind turbine continues from the 7 MW to the even bigger 8 MW turbine together with DNV GL. With our certification services we support Siemens to meet customer expectations to provide the industry with an optimised turbine with an even higher output rate to reduce the levelized cost of energy.”

The SWT-8.0-154 turbine is an evolution of the SWT-6.0-154 and the SWT-7.0-154 turbines. The main changes going from SWT-7.0-154 to the SWT-8.0-154 turbine consist of an upgraded generator including the adjacent electrical system and an advanced control system. The upgrade of the offshore direct drive wind turbine to 8MW is made possible through the introduction of new magnet technology with an even higher grade than that introduced in the SWT-7.0-154, which enables a rated power increase of more than 14% from 7 to 8MW, Siemens explained.