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First US order for ‘game changing’ gearless wind turbines

Siemens says its SWT-3.0-101 wind turbine has been engineered to use 50% less parts and less than half the moving parts

German wind turbine manufacturer Siemens is celebrating receiving its first order for its new three-megawatt direct drive turbines in the US.

The company will supply three of its SWT-3.0-101 machines to the Crossroads wind project in northwest Oklahoma, along with 95 of its 2.3MW machines, the SWT-2.3-101.

The Crossroads project is being developed Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Americas, which has transferred ownership to its utility client Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E) this week (see this BrighterEnergy.org story).

Siemens made its new direct drive wind turbines available in America for the first time back in April.

Direct drive turbines do not require a gear box to transfer the motion energy from the rotor to the electrical generator.

The manufacturer believes that with 50% fewer parts than equivalent gear box based turbines, the machines should offer higher levels of reliability and efficiency.

The 3MW direct drive machine has the same 101-meter (331-foot) rotor diameter as the 2.3MW geared Siemens turbines.

“Game-changing”

Jens-Peter Saul, CEO of the Siemens Wind Power Business Unit. “This is the first time that the new SWT-3.0-101 direct drive turbine has been sold in the US. Bringing our new generation of direct drive wind turbines to Oklahoma is the first step in establishing this game-changing technology in North America.”

Construction on the 227.5MW Crossroads wind farm in Dewey County is expected to begin later this month, with the first turbines being delivered in April next year, for completion in the second half of 2011.

Siemens is providing turbine service and maintenance for three and a half years along with delivery, installation and commissioning for its turbines.

“We are excited to move forward this project, which we have negotiated on very favorable terms for OG&E’s customers,” said Jesse Langston, vice president of utility commercial operations for OG&E. “By its third year in operation, we expect Crossroads to be delivering net savings to our customers for the balance of the projects 25 year life. This is possible because of the excellent business partnerships we have formed with Siemens, and also due to the constructive regulatory environment we have in Oklahoma.”