MANUFACTURING Production • Fabrication • Components • Supply Chain • Materials • Tooling • Machinery First-Ever UK Built Offshore Turbine Blades Arrive MHI Vestas Blades designed, tested, and manufactured on the Isle of Wight arrive at The first six 80-meter-long blades for the 258 MW Bur- MHI Vestas’ pre-assembly facility in Belfast ready for installation at Dong bo Bank Extension project recently arrived at the MHI Energy’s Burbo Bank Extension project. Vestas Offshore Wind pre-assembly facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The blades for the V164-8.0 MW tur- “Through investment and collaboration with our part- bines — which were designed, tested, and manufactured ners in the Solent region, we have created jobs, increased at the MHI Vestas blade factory on the Isle of Wight training opportunities, and stimulated growth through- — will be the first locally built blades installed at a UK out the entire supply chain,” Tommerup said. “We believe offshore wind-power plant. that our efforts reflect the stimulation and growth that The MHI Vestas factory on the Isle of Wight is where the UK has targeted with the continued investment in the unique skills and processes were developed that are offshore wind power.” necessary to produce blades on a large scale. “By building a strong, competitive UK supply chain, “It’s a significant milestone for the industry to see the we are creating jobs, attracting investment, and providing world’s largest blades in serial production arriving in Bel- the certainty and confidence businesses need,” said UK fast ready for installation,” said CEO Jens Tommerup. Energy Secretary Greg Clark. “We are committed to our “This marks the first time locally manufactured major world-leading offshore wind industry, and now we have components for offshore wind turbines are being used in the first-ever offshore wind-turbine blades built in the the UK.” UK by MHI Vestas.” 40 SEPTEMBER | 2016 “Belfast Harbour is delighted facility of its kind in the UK in or- Work at the pre-assembly site to welcome MHI Vestas and to der to facilitate this style of opera- started in April, and since then the have the privilege of handling the tion. Supporting the growth of the first towers have been fully assem- world’s largest blades in serial pro- renewable energy sector is some- bled, tested, and pre-commissioned, duction,” said Joe O’Neill, Belfast thing we are proud to be a part of ready for offshore installation. Harbour’s commercial director. and look forward to working with “In 2013, we completed the devel- MHI Vestas to ensure the success- Source MHI Vestas opment of a 200,000 m2 offshore ful completion of the Burbo Bank For more information, wind terminal, the first bespoke Extension project.” go to www.mhivestasoffshore.com Nordex Secures 243 MW Order for U.S. Wind Farm The Nordex Group has secured a The outlook for U.S. wind energy Nordex SE new, 243 MW wind-turbine order was strengthened by the long-term for the United States. The manufac- extension of the federal Production turer has completed an agreement to Tax Credit (PTC) in late 2015. With supply 81 AW125/3000 turbines to a this policy in place, market observers wind farm in Texas. expect wind installations in the U.S. The turbines are designed for IEC- to grow by more than 10,000 MW 2, medium-wind sites. Each turbine per year. will be equipped with a 125-meter Nordex sees great potential in rotor and installed on an 87.5-meter the United States due to the group’s An AW 125/3000 turbine. tubular steel tower. Installation is ex- extended product portfolio that pected to begin in early 2017. now includes turbines from Accio- of about 5,000. The manufacturing This latest deal continues the na Windpower. U.S. customers are group owns factories in Germany, strong growth of the AW3000 plat- particularly enthusiastic about the Spain, Brazil, and the U.S., and in form in Texas. Other recent orders AW3000 and Delta generation prod- the near future will operate one in for AW3000 turbines in the state in- ucts. To date, Nordex Group has in- India. The product range focuses on clude the 300 MW Green Pastures stalled a total of 2,380 MW of wind onshore turbines in the 1.5 to 3 MW wind complex owned by Capital Dy- turbines in the U.S. class, which are designed for the namics, the 165 MW Cameron wind The Group has installed more than market requirements in developed farm owned by IKEA, and the 93 18 GW of wind energy in more than and emerging countries. MW San Roman wind farm owned 25 markets. In 2015 Nordex and Ac- by Acciona. ciona Windpower generated com- Source Nordex SE The U.S. is one of the most im- bined revenues of 3.4 billion euros. For more information, portant wind markets in the world. The company employs a workforce go to www.nordex-online.com Siemens Gets Follow-Up Onshore Project in Australia Siemens has been awarded a contract With a capacity of 100 MW, The direct drive units will add a ca- to supply, install, and commission 32 Hornsdale Stage 2 will be a major pacity of 100 MW to the Hornsdale wind turbines, each with a capacity of contribution to the Australian Cap- wind-power plant near the South 3.2 MW and a rotor diameter of 113 ital Territory’s (ACT) target of 100 Australian town of Jamestown. meters, for the Hornsdale Stage 2 on- percent renewable energy by 2020. “We are delighted that Neoen en- shore wind farm in South Australia. Installation of the wind turbines is trusted Siemens to also supply the Stage 2 is an addition to the Horns- scheduled to begin in December, second stage of the Hornsdale wind dale Stage 1 wind-farm project, for with the start of operations expect- project with our proven direct drive which Siemens signed a contract in ed by June 2017. Siemens will then wind turbines,” said Thomas Rich- August 2015. The customer for both be responsible for service and main- terich, CEO Onshore at the Siemens wind-power plants is Neoen Austra- tenance of the wind turbines within Wind Power and Renewables Divi- lia, a business of the French company, the framework of a long-term service sion. “Hornsdale Stage 2 is a good Neoen. agreement. example of collaborative customer windsystemsmag.com 41 MANUFACTURING Siemens The direct drive units will add a capacity of 100 MW to the Hornsdale partnership combined with the best technology for the wind-power plant near the South Australian town of Jamestown. benefit of society, the economy, and the environment.” The wind-power plant will be installed near the South Australian town of Jamestown, about 124 miles north of to provide clean energy for 70,000 Australian homes and Adelaide and will achieve a record low price of 77 Aus- new employment, training, and investment opportunities tralian dollars per MWh — around 5.2 euro cents per in South Australia and the ACT,” said Xavier Barbaro, kWh. The Hornsdale wind farm Stage 1 was signed at Neoen’s global CEO. “With almost 40 percent of the a fixed price of 6.1 euro cents per kWh in 2015. The -en country’s clean energy produced by wind farms, Australia’s abling factors for the low energy price are excellent wind renewable energy footprint is increasing in size and global resources, important synergies with the first stage of the relevance — making it a great place to invest and do busi- Hornsdale wind farm as well as optimal finance and eq- ness.” The CO2 emissions saved by the Hornsdale wind uity structures. Once operational, Hornsdale Stage 2 will farm upon completion will be equivalent to taking either contribute to the achievement of carbon-neutral targets 290,000 cars off the road or planting 1.9 million trees. by selling the generated power to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT Government). Source Siemens “Hornsdale Stage 2 is another great example of the For more information, global strength of France and Germany working together go to www.siemens.com/wind 42 SEPTEMBER | 2016.