Mar 12 2007
Siemens Power Generation (PG) has received a major order from Britain for the erection of two offshore wind farms. Siemens is to supply 54 wind turbines with a combined maximum capacity of 180 megawatts (MW) for the Lynn and Inner Dowsing projects in Lincolnshire on the east coast of England. This will be the second time that the Siemens 3.6-MW wind turbines will be deployed offshore. Purchaser is British Gas’s parent company, Centrica. Siemens PG will also assume responsibility for operation and maintenance for an initial period of five years. The Siemens order is a major part of an overall investment of approximately EUR440 million.
"Last year we doubled our turnover and our declared objective is still to make our wind power business grow faster than the market," said Andreas Nauen, CEO of Siemens Power Generation Wind business. "Securing the two projects in Britain will bring us a good step forward in this respect. We can thus also further expand our leading position in the growth market sector of offshore wind farms."
Siemens Wind Power also has two ongoing offshore projects Lillgrund in Sweden and Burbo Banks in Liverpool Bay on the British west coast. Both projects are scheduled for commissioning in late 2007. Last month the Siemens division Power Transmission and Distribution announced the supply of the grid connection for both projects – Lynn and Inner Dowsing.
The two projects will play an important role in Centrica’s portfolio. On completion by the end of 2008, Lynn and Inner Dowsing will be Britain’s largest offshore wind farm development. The turbines will then supply approximately 130,000 household customers served by British Gas and Scottish Gas with environment-friendly wind-based electricity. Centrica already operates the 26-MW onshore wind farm Glens of Foudland near Huntly in Scotland, which was supplied by Siemens Wind Power.