Gamesa - First wind turbine manufacturer to certify wind turbine life extension

Gamesa has become the first wind turbine manufacturer to manage to certify its useful life extension programme under the standard issued by independent certification body, DNV GL.

This certification -awarded to G47-660 kW life extension programme- evidences once again the company’s technological leadership, underpinned by a broad suite of products designed to reduce the cost of energy (CoE).

The life extension programme consists of a series of structural upgrades and monitoring features which allow owners to lengthen the useful lives of their turbines from 20 to 30 years of guaranteed safety and availability. These 10 additional years of useful life lock in supplementary income and thereby enhance these facilities’ profitability.

“This certificate is a testimony to Gamesa’s operating excellence and technological firepower. The life extension programme constitutes a unique business opportunity for our customers as it provides them with the chance to generate a higher return from their wind farms by means of a low-risk investment”, according to Sergio Vélez, who heads up the programme for Gamesa.

The certificate awarded by DNV GL was based on detailed analysis of the design, specifications and applied calculations over the entire life of a Gamesa G47-660 kW wind turbine, from the year in which it is installed until year 30. This certification endorses the life extension methodology designed by the company based on the ‘Guideline for Continued Operation of Wind Turbines’ of DNV GL, Edition 2009.

Andreas Schroeter, executive vice-president of the renewables certification division of DNV GL, added: “The ability to extend the useful life of a turbine is a key step in maximising efficiency and reducing costs in the global wind energy market. One of the greatest benefits for customers and operators associated with this programme is the reduction in the cost of energy associated with the product’s life cycle”.

Gamesa will apply its life extension programme to 850 kW and 2.0MW turbines and even to ones made by other OEMs which are maintained by Gamesa

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