Siemens Gamesa Gets Cracking on Hollandse Kust Zuid Turbines

Siemens Gamesa has started the serial production of the SG 11.0-200 DD wind turbines for the 1.5 GW Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm at its facilities in Cuxhaven, Germany.

This is according to 8.2 Consulting AG, the company selected by Vattenfall, the developer of the project, to supervise the production of the 140 turbines for the project.

8.2 Consulting AG has already carried out the supervision of the pre-serial production of five units manufactured in Brande, Denmark.

Due to the pre-serial status, no defined processes and proper documentation for the inspection was available which caused a challenging and motivating part for the involved expert pool, the company said. Several changes and improvements could be integrated directly into the production processes and weak points that later became apparent as potential failures were discovered early on.

The framework contract for the serial production of the remaining 135 wind turbines at the production site in Cuxhaven, Germany is now starting, 8.2 Consulting AG said.

8.2 Consulting AG will monitor continuously the serial production of hubs, generators, and the entire back-ends with a team of inspectors on site.

The complete production chain is examined – from the delivery of the single components through the mechanical inspection after final assembly to the visual final inspection of each wind turbine.

”8.2 Consulting AG has provided Quality and Surveillance services to Vattenfall for the Hollandse Kust Zuid 1-4 Project with respect to Nacelle production. During times when travel has been difficult and onsite presence has been challenging due to the ever evolving COVID-19 situation, 8.2 have provided eyes and ears for Vattenfall and helped ensure critical milestones are delivered and an extremely high level of quality is met. 8.2 have been a brilliant partner to work with on the HKZ project thus far, and I look forward to the continued collaboration for the rest of the project,” said Ben Flett, BU Offshore at Vattenfall.

The pre-serial production of the first five turbines has been going on for almost a year at the production site in Brande, Denmark, in order to optimize production processes and prepare the serial production.

The production of the five units was largely completed at the end of July, and the serial production of the remaining 135 wind turbines for the wind farm, which are scheduled to be installed in one year, started a few days ago at the new location in Cuxhaven, Germany.

Due to the complexity and the new turbine technology, the owner and future operator of the wind farm, Vattenfall, has decided for extensive production supervision, 8.2 Consulting said.

Hollandse Kust Zuid is being constructed at a site located between 18 and 36 kilometres from the Dutch coast, not far from The Hague and Zandvoort.

The wind turbines are expected to be erected and commissioned by the summer of 2023 when Hollandse Kust Zuid will become the largest operating offshore wind farm in the world.

Vattenfall, who won the development rights for Hollandse Kust Zuid’s four sites in two Dutch tenders, is building the project together with its partner BASF, who recently bought a 49.5 per cent stake in the project.