Siemens

Under the contract, Siemens will be responsible for delivering and installing 122 units of its SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines with 53m-long blades.at the project.

The company will begin installing the turbines in early summer this year which will begin operating by early next year.

The deal will also require Siemens to provide advanced remote monitoring and diagnostics at the project.

Siemens wind power and renewables division onshore CEO Thomas Richterich said: "Wind power is becoming an increasingly important part of the U.S. energy mix.

"We are looking forward to working with Westar Energy on this large and important project. Continued technological innovation to drive down cost along with recent congressional action providing long-term certainty for renewable energy sets the stage for continued wind power growth in America."

Siemens will manufacture the wind turbine blades for the project at its blade facility in Fort Madison, Iowa. The nacelles will be assembled at the Siemens facility in Hutchinson, Kansas.

The Western Plains wind farm is expected to generate clean electricity that will be enough to power approximately 100,000 average homes in the country.

To date, Siemens has installed more than 5,000 wind turbines in the US which are capable of producing clean power for more than 2.5 million households.

The deal follows Westar Energy’s agreement to purchase energy generated at the Kingman wind energy center, also located in Kansas.

Westar Energy’s energy centers generate over 7GW of electricity. It operates and coordinates 35,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines.


Image: The Western Plains wind farm will feature Siemens SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines. Photo: courtesy of Siemens.