Gamesa Demonstrates Its Progress at EWEA Trade Fair (Austria)

Gamesa, a global technology leader in wind energy, is exhibiting for the 10th consecutive year at the European Wind Energy Association’s (EWEA) trade fair, one of the industry’s premier events, in Vienna from 4-7 February.

At this year’s fair, the company is showcasing the development and evolution of its portfolio of products, all designed to provide competitive technological solutions and reduce its customers’ Cost of Energy (CoE).

Gamesa is also providing an overview of its technology’s development through its broad range of platforms and turbines: Gamesa 850 kW, Gamesa 2.0 MW and Gamesa 4.5 MW. At the same time, EWEA attendees can learn about Gamesa’s progress on developing its two new wind turbines: Gamesa 2.5 MW and Gamesa 5.5 MW (the latter suitable for both onshore and offshore use), which will become available beginning in the second and fourth quarters of 2014, respectively, with the aim of addressing growth in two of the wind energy segments forecast to post the sharpest increases in demand.

Innovation is a cornerstone of Gamesa’s business, and technological development of more efficient products adapted to a range of markets is one of its hallmarks.

The Gamesa 2.0 MW wind turbines improve competitive investment ratios per MW installed and cost of energy produced due to their versatile combination of a 2.0 MW unit power wind turbine and 5 different sized rotors: 80, 87, 90, 97 and 114 m diameters, to achieve maximum output in all types of settings and wind conditions, with current levels of fleet availability exceeding 98%.

In 2012, the company enhanced the platform with the launch of the G114-2.0 MW Class IIIA, which maximizes energy yields from low-wind sites.

 Gamesa 4.5 MW, the most powerful and innovative land-based platform

In the multi-megawatt sector, Gamesa continues to be a technology leader in the industry by developing the Gamesa 4.5 MW, the most powerful land-based platform on the market.

Unique characteristics of the first turbine of this family, the G128-4.5 MW turbine, include the world’s first segmented blade, which provides ease of transport and assembly on par with that of a 2.0 MW turbine, and FlexiFit®, a crane which couples to the nacelle to assist in assembly and servicing. Despite its 128 m rotor size and 62.5 meter blade, the turbine is extraordinarily light-weight. These innovations combine to enhance the model’s competitiveness in Cost of Energy (CoE) terms for this capacity segment.

Both the three G128-4.5 MW installed prototypes and the first commercial wind farm have attained extraordinary availability levels: the prototype installed in Jaulín (Zaragoza, Spain) achieved a milestone in December, reaching 100% availability and an average of 99.25% in the past four months.

Also, the G128-4.5 MW is the first wind turbine generator in the world designed for sustainability and the only turbine to receive Ecodesign certification through the International Standard ISO 14006/2011 which guarantees the turbine produces the lowest possible environmental impact throughout its useful life.

 Gamesa 850 kW, reliability and flexibility

One of the turbines with the longest history of use in the land-based market -Gamesa has installed 9,654 machines (combined capacity of 8,206 MW)-, the Gamesa 850 kW platform and its G52-850 kW and G58-850 kW models are renowned for their reliability and adaptability in extreme-condition locations, making them useful for a wide range of environments, including deserts, humid climates, high or low temperatures, high altitudes, etc.

The Gamesa 850 kW platform also is a good fit for use in the fast growing U.S. distributed and community wind energy sector.

 Gamesa 5.0 MW offshore

Gamesa has designed and developed its first offshore turbine platform, the Gamesa 5.0 MW offshore. The pioneer turbine in this family, the G128-5.0 MW (with a 128 m rotor diameter and a modular and redundant design) includes the technology proven and validated by Gamesa for the 4.5 MW turbine, along with the know-how and experience gained through its use.

Gamesa has secured IEC 61400-22 design certification for its G128-5.0 MW offshore wind turbine from independent organisation Det Norske Veritas (DNV). The wind turbine installed on the Arinaga Quay on the island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain).

This achievement represents a major milestone in the certification process for Gamesa’s offshore turbine, ensuring the timely launch, sales and manufacturing potential of the company’s offshore turbine platforms in coming years.

 Services: a business geared towards reducing operating costs

Gamesa is also attending EWEA to exhibit its operation and maintenance services product portfolio, which is designed to reduce total operating costs, boost wind farm efficiency and improve turbine availability.

The experience in managing maintenance of more than 18,200 MW worldwide guarantees Gamesa’s programme to extend the life cycle of wind turbines, a system of improvements intended to lengthen the useful life and enhance the efficiency and capabilities not only for its own turbine models but also for other companies’ wind turbines. Gamesa is showcasing in EWEA the programme to extend the life cycle of its G47-660 MW, that guarantee stability in operating costs at around the level of a 10-year-old farm.

[mappress]

Press release, February 04, 2013; Image: gamesa