Anholt offshore wind farm; Image source: Siemens Gamesa/ archive (cropped)
Siemens Gamesa has commenced a blade repair and upgrade campaign at the Anholt offshore wind farm, after signing agreements with Ørsted for these works to be carried out on the Danish offshore wind farm and UK’s London Array, both featuring Siemens Gamesa’s 3.6MW wind turbines that have been affected by leading edge erosion.
During the campaign, Siemens Gamesa will dismantle the blades, apply a protective shell and install an aerodynamic improvement kit to increase the yield.
The companies are also in the process of planning individual repair and upgrade campaigns, while the two specific agreements for Anholt and London Array are based on earlier agreed guiding principles on a portfolio basis. Further agreements, following similar principles, are expected in the months to come, Ørsted’s CEO Henrik Poulsen said.
Ørsted does not expect this to have any, or any significant, impact on its finances due to the increased production and partly as result of warranty claims.
The 111-turbine Anholt offshore wind farm, for which Siemens Gamesa has a 5-year service contact, was inaugurated in September 2013, only two months after the 175-turbine London Array, for which the turbine supplier signed a long-term service agreement.
In February, Ørsted selected Siemens Gamesa as the exclusive wind turbine supplier for the 1.4GW Hornsea Project Two , planned to consist of 8MW wind turbines with a 167-metre rotor.
The recently completed and soon-to-be commissioned Walney Extension offshore wind farm, which is set to take over the world’s largest title from London Array, is also featuring Siemens Gamesa technology within its East phase.