Siemens Gamesa To Repower 508 Megawatts Of US Wind
Spanish wind energy giant Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has been awarded the contract to repower three wind farms in the United States for a total of 508 megawatts (MW), extending the lifespan and reliability of projects which would otherwise have reached their life’s end.
Siemens Gamesa announced on Wednesday that it had been awarded two separate contracts with US utility NextEra Energy Resources to repower three wind farms across Texas for a total capacity of 508 MW. The deal confirms the company as one of the world’s leading wind energy operations and maintenance (O&M) companies, a market which will only continue to evolve and grow in importance over the next decades. In total, Siemens Gamesa has 55 gigawatts (GW) under service around the world.
The first of the new contracts signed between Siemens Gamesa and NextEra is for the repowering of 362 of Vestas’ V47 wind turbines at the Indian Mesa and Woodward wind farms in Texas for a total capacity of 240 MW.
Siemens Gamesa will overhaul the V47 turbines to upgrade hardware and control systems and resulting in an increased output of 710 kilowatts (kW), up from the previous 660 kW, as well as extending the life of the turbines for another 10 years with an increased availability. The company will upgrade the electrical and electronic components of the wind turbines, subsequently improving performance and increasing its lifetime energy production. The overhaul is expected to be completed by the end of the year and the turbines will remain operational during the process.
“We highly value our continued partnership with NextEra Energy Resources,” said Mark Albenze, CEO of Siemens Gamesa’s Service Business Unit. “As a multi-brand service provider, we can enhance the performance of V47 turbines with our cutting-edge solutions by delivering maximum performance and optimal energy output, allowing NextEra Energy Resources to achieve the best possible return on their investment.”
The second agreement signed between Siemens Gamesa and NextEra is for the repowering of 210 units of the legacy Bonus 1.3 MW wind turbine at the King Mountain Wind Energy Center in Texas, making it the first time a 1.3 MW turbine has ever been repowered.
“Repowering the Bonus units demonstrates Siemens Gamesa’s commitment to maximizing value for our customers throughout an asset’s lifecycle,” added Mark Albenze. “The upgrades will improve the reliability of these units by modernizing the turbines to reduce maintenance requirements and sustain overall site availability.”
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