Cape Wind signs 130-turbine deal with Siemens

April 1, 2010

If it gets the federal go-ahead, Cape Wind will use 3.6MW turbines from Siemens, like these machines at the 90MW Burbo Bank project in the UK's Liverpool Bay

The developers of one of America’s first offshore wind projects has put pen to paper on a deal to buy 130 wind turbines from German manufacturer Siemens.

Cape Wind is to use Siemens’ 3.6-megawatt machines for the 468-megawatt project, which is proposed for the Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound, off the coast of Massachusetts.

The project’s developer, Boston-based Cape Wind LLC, said yesterday that Siemens will also open a US Offshore Wind office in its home city.

The company described the Siemens 3.6MW turbine as an industry “workhorse”, with 1,000 units now sold and 150 installed and operational, mostly in Europe.

Jim Gordon, Cape Wind President, said: “This agreement between Cape Wind and Siemens represents a major step forward to jumpstarting the American offshore wind industry and increasing energy independence, creating a healthier environment while producing hundreds of green energy jobs.”

Decision time

With state and local permits in place, the Cape Wind project is still awaiting a decision from the US Department of the Interior as to whether it can go ahead.

A decision is expected later this month from Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

Randy Zwirn, President and CEO of Siemens Energy, Inc., said: “We understand that the Department of Interior is working hard to provide certainty to the project and we look forward to the decision.

“While the onshore wind industry is well developed in the U.S., the United States offshore wind resources still offer a vast, untapped source of renewable energy potential. The final approval of the Cape Wind offshore wind farm will be key to the success of the offshore wind industry in the U.S.,” said Mr Zwirn, applying pressure on the shoulders of Sec. Salazar.

New office

The Siemens Energy President said his company’s new office in Boston would open on June 1, 2010, allowing it to be closer to its US customers.

The final approval of the Cape Wind offshore wind farm will be key to the success of the offshore wind industry in the US” - Randy Zwirn, Siemens

Along with the Cape Wind project, the Siemens President said his company had been attracted to Massachusetts by the supportive policies of the state and its Governor.

Gerard Dhooge, President of the Boston & New England Maritime Trades Council, welcomed the news of the agreement between Cape Wind and Siemens.

He said: “Skilled maritime workers are ready to get to work to help install these wind turbines offshore Massachusetts and to build America’s first offshore wind farm. Thirty to fifty percent of the members of the Maritime Trades Council are currently out of work so we need these jobs now more than ever.”

Siemens has been providing offshore wind turbines for nearly two decades, since supplying machines for the world’s first offshore wind farm in Vindeby, Denmark, in 1991.

The company already has a significant onshore wind presence in the US, with 1,000 employees and more than $100 million invested in two manufacturing sites for onshore turbines.