Siemens secures order for its single largest onshore wind project in the United States

Siemens Energy recently secured an order for its single largest U.S. wind turbine project. Puget Sound Energy, Washington state’s oldest, local energy utility, has ordered 149 wind turbines rated at 2.3 megawatts (MW) each for the Lower Snake River Wind Project in Washington state’s Garfield County. With an installed capacity of 343 MW, the wind power facility is expected to provide clean power for more than 100,000 homes in the state of Washington. PSE has an option to purchase an additional 110 SWT-2.3-101 for later phases of the project.

“This order is an important stepping stone towards becoming one of the top two wind turbine supplier in the U.S.,” said René Umlauft, CEO of the Renewable Energy Division of Siemens Energy. “We look forward to working with PSE to further advance its renewable energy initiative in the United States.”

The scope of Siemens’ contract with PSE for Lower Snake River includes the supply, installation and commissioning of the 149 wind turbines of type SWT-2.3-101, as well as a five-year service agreement. Since its introduction in April 2009, the wind turbine with an output of 2.3 MW has quickly become the best-selling wind turbine in the U.S. The 101-meter rotor is specifically designed to optimize the energy returns in areas with moderate wind conditions.

To better meet the increasing demand for clean energy in the Americas, Siemens is currently constructing its wind turbine nacelle assembly facility in Hutchinson, Kansas, which is scheduled to become operational in December 2010. The wind turbine nacelle facility is expected to employ approximately 400 “green-collar” employees. Siemens also recently expanded its blade manufacturing facilities in Fort Madison, Iowa, which currently employs more than 600 people.

Wind power is part of Siemens’ Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2009, revenue from the Portfolio totaled approximately EUR23 billion, making Siemens the world’s largest supplier of environmentally friendly technologies. In the same period, the company’s products and solutions enabled customers to reduce their CO2 emissions by 210 million tons. This amount equals the combined annual CO2 emissions of New York, Tokyo, London and Berlin.


The full text of the press release can be found in the attached PDF and at:
http://www.siemens.com/press/en/pressrelease/2010/renewable_energy/ere201005077.html