Siemens Energy has been awarded another order from Minnesota Power for 35, 3-MW SWT-3.0-101 direct drive wind turbines for its Bison 2 wind energy center near Center, North Dakota. The scope of supply for the wind-power plant includes transportation, erection, and commissioning of the 35 wind turbines, as well as a three-year service and maintenance agreement. Deliveries of the wind turbines will commence in August 2012, and the wind power plant is scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2012.

This order is the third for Siemens direct drive wind turbines in the U.S., including Minnesota Power’s Bison 1 North Dakota and Oklahoma Gas & Electric’s Crossroads Oklahoma wind power plants. “Our direct drive turbines have only half the parts required for a conventional geared wind turbine and a significantly smaller number of moving parts, allowing for increased output and improved maintainability,” says Jan Kjaersgaard, VP and general manager of Siemens’ Americas Wind Power business.

The SWT-3.0-101 direct-drive wind turbine has a rated power output of 3 MW, a rotor diameter of 101 m, and an innovative permanent magnet generator. The first prototypes of the SWT-3.0-101 have been running for more than a year and are meeting all expectations in terms of reliability and performance, according to the company.

Siemens

http://www.siemens.com/energy