Siemens has installed a prototype of low wind turbine SWT-3.15-142 at the Drantum wind test site in Jutland in Denmark, as part of its testing stage.
Featuring a rotor diameter of 142m, the SWT-3.15-142 onshore turbine has successfully completed prototype approval and is now due to undergo blade and performance testing.
The IEC Class IIIA wind turbine is equipped with rotor blades based on hybrid-carbon technology.
The turbine is designed to produce power of 10 GWh per year, even at average wind speeds of only six meters per second.
Siemens Wind Power head of technology Morten Pilgaard Rasmussen said: "In our extended onshore product portfolio, the SWT-3.15-142 plays an important role since it is our first IEC Class IIIA wind turbine for this platform.
"With LM's hybrid-carbon blades and our successful direct drive technology this model incorporates proven and highly efficient technology in all components and we are confident that we can maintain short time to market and have this product ready for serial production by the end of 2017."
The new low wind turbine is part of Siemens’ onshore direct drive product platform. The turbine can be configured to a hub height of up to 165m and 69m rotor blades to meet customers’ requirements.
Siemens said that the turbine uses the same nacelle as other models such as the SWT-3.6-130 including major components like the hub, generator, cooling- and electrical systems.
The firm is planning to commence serial production of the new direct-drive low wind turbine model by the end of this year.
Image: The Siemens’ new SWT-3.15-142 wind turbine. Photo: courtesy of Siemens AG.