Siemens Gamesa recently completed the installation of the world’s most powerful wind turbine, thereby challenging Chinese manufacturers. While European companies mostly produce wind turbines with a capacity of 14-15 MW, a subsidiary of Siemens Energy manufactured and installed a 21.5-megawatt turbine in the coastal waters of Denmark.
Image source: Goldwind Australia
Until recently, Chinese companies including Dongfang Electric and MingYang led the world in producing the most powerful wind turbines. Their assets included wind turbines with a capacity of 18 to 20 MW, as well as plans to build a 26-megawatt turbine. The more powerful the individual turbines, the cheaper the energy they produce, although the costs of transporting and installing cyclopean structures comparable in height to the Eiffel Tower are quite high and associated with technological difficulties.
The European wind turbine manufacturer is aware of the complexity of installing and operating high-power installations. That is why Siemens Energy has not yet made a final decision on launching commercial production of 21.5-megawatt turbines. The first installation will become a kind of testing ground for technology development. The license for its operation and refinement has been issued by the Danish authorities until 2027. During this time, the company will decide whether to begin mass production of such turbines or focus on the production of lower-power installations.