Siemens to deliver 42 direct-drive wind turbines to Ireland

Siemens Energy has received an order for delivery and servicing of 42 direct-drive wind turbines for two onshore wind power plants. Purchaser is the Irish utility Bord na Móna. The order encompasses 28 SWT-3.0-101 direct-drive wind turbines for the Mount Lucas wind farm, located in County Offaly, around 80 kilometers west of Dublin and 14 SWT-3.0-101 direct-drive wind turbines for the Bruckana wind power plant located on the border of Kilkenny and Tipperary, around 120 kilometers south-west of Dublin. These turbines, each with a rating of 3 megawatts (MW) and a rotor diameter of 101 meters, are scheduled to begin feeding power into the grid by mid 2014. The combined capacity of both wind farms of 126 MW will be sufficient to provide ecofriendly electricity to 80,000 Irish households.
 

“This is the first order from Ireland for our direct-drive wind turbines. Globally, we have already sold more than 800 wind turbines of this type for on- and offshore wind power plants. With this innovative technology we contribute to the development of a sustainable energy supply in Ireland,” said Felix Ferlemann, CEO of the Wind Power Division of Siemens Energy. The Republic of Ireland has excellent wind conditions. According to the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA), the country already has an installed wind generation capacity of about 2,000 MW today.
 

Siemens will supply, install and commission the 42 direct-drive turbines for the Mount Lucas and Bruckana wind power plants and will also provide service for the plants over a period of 15 years. Long-term service programs like this offer the customers more projectable service costs and a prolonged warranty.