New community wind farm in Stadum opts for direct-drive wind turbines from Siemens

Siemens Energy was awarded the contract for Holzacker-Knorburg community wind power plant. Erected in 2014 between the north German municipalities of Enge-Sande and Stadum, it will be one of the most modern wind power plants in northern Germany. The seven Siemens SWT-3.0-113 direct-drive wind turbines ordered for the project do not contain traditional drivetrains, setting a new standard for efficiency and low operating costs. It is the first installation of this modern wind turbine in the northern German region of Schleswig-Holstein. Siemens will also provide service and maintenance within the framework of a twenty-year service agreement.

Having a rotor diameter of 113 meters and a hub height of 92.5 meters, the wind power plant will extract energy at high efficiency even at low and medium wind speeds. As the individual wind turbines will be located only approximately 330 meters apart, the SWT-3.0-113 is particularly well suited for the project. Their robust structural design fits well at this relatively close proximity.

Delivery and installation of the seven wind turbines is scheduled to commence in early summer 2014. For the following 20 years, Siemens will provide its long-term service program that includes an extended warranty on all major components. Such long-term extended partnerships can benefit customers by attaining highly predictable returns and a larger degree of investment security.

“We and our regional project planner ee-Nord GmbH are convinced that Siemens' turbines are the right choice because their modern technology gives us the necessary reserves for our planning,” emphasizes Ralf Nissen of the wind farm company Bürger-Windpark Holzacker-Knorburg GmbH & Co. KG. His executive management colleague Ingo Storm adds, that “Siemens offers a very well-rounded package comprising optimized turbine design, proven reliability and clearly defined calculation of operating costs.” For Siemens Wind Power CTO Henrik Stiesdal, the order sends an important signal: “We are especially pleased about the Holzacker-Knorburg project because it allows us to demonstrate the technical and economic benefits of our direct-drive wind turbines right here in northern Germany.”

Wind power and the associated service activities are part of Siemens' Environmental Portfolio. Around 43 percent of the company's revenues are generated by green products and solutions. That makes Siemens one of the world’s leading providers of eco-friendly technology.