The Danish company DONG Energy will be trialling Siemens’ new 6MW wind turbine at their Gunfleet Sands 3 demonstration project, 8.5km from Clacton-on-Sea on the south east coast of England. Two of the Direct Drive Technology turbines will be installed for their very first offshore tests. DONG is hoping that, as the next generation of turbines, the new machines will help industrialise the offshore wind sector and make future projects more cost-effective to build and run.

Construction will start in May and the turbines should be operating by November 2012. They will be connected to the shore through a dedicated export cable and tested for their reliability, performance and functionality. DONG Energy commented on the trials: ‘DONG Energy is focused on making offshore wind more competitive...We are very pleased to receive the consent that gives us the opportunity to state our commitment to the growing wind industry in the UK.’

Wilding says: ‘This is an important trial for the offshore wind sector. These new turbines will hopefully pave the way to the increased capacity demanded by Round 3 projects, enabling more powerful wind farms that will bring down energy costs.’

Source: Supplier Scan