Siemens Gamesa Upgrades Flagship Offshore Wind Turbine, Gets Preferred Supplier Status for 3.6 GW Norfolk Projects

Vattenfall has named Siemens Gamesa the Preferred Supplier of wind turbines for the 1.8 GW Norfolk Boreas and the 1.8 GW Norfolk Vanguard wind farms offshore Norfolk, UK.

The agreement includes the potential deployment of the new SG 14-236 DD offshore wind turbines and a multi-year Service agreement.

The agreement is subject to the UK Government’s Contract for Difference Round 4 auction award in the calendar year 2022 and subsequent final investment decision by Vattenfall, Siemens Gamesa said.

The newly introduced, enhanced SG 14‑236 DD offshore wind turbine has a 236-metre diameter rotor, a 43,500 m2 swept area, and a capacity of up to 15 MW. The model is based on Siemens Gamesa’s existing flagship turbine – the SG 14-222 DD.

The wind turbine model will feature 115-metre blades with an option for developers to order RecyclableBlades. The 236-metre rotor with blades based on the IntegralBlade® technology will enable the SG 14-236 DD to produce more than 30 per cent Annual Energy Production (AEP) compared to the SG 11.0-200 DD, Siemens Gamesa said.

The SG 14-222 DD model features 108-metre blades and a 222-metre diameter rotor, providing an increase of more than 25 per cent in AEP compared to the SG 11.0-200 DD offshore wind turbine, according to the turbine maker.

The SG 14-236 DD prototype is scheduled to be installed in 2022 and the model will be commercially available in 2024.

”The Siemens Gamesa – Vattenfall partnership has been fruitful for a great number of years across numerous markets. With this Nominated Preferred Supplier agreement for the Norfolk projects, we aim to add another 3.6 GW to our joint portfolio,” said Marc Becker, CEO of the Siemens Gamesa Offshore Business Unit.

”Developing an even larger rotor for our flagship offshore wind turbine is an example of how we are always seeking to innovate and improve. We can increase blade length and incorporate the solution on our existing design. We are committed to leading the offshore revolution, adding value to our customer’s projects and unlocking the potential of wind power.”

Norfolk Vanguard is located more than 47 kilometres from the Norfolk Coast, adjacent to the proposed development area for the Norfolk Boreas which is located approximately 72 kilometres from shore at its nearest point.

”Vattenfall’s Norfolk projects will form one of the largest offshore wind zones in the world when they are completed, generating enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 4 million homes. We’re very pleased to be able to announce Siemens Gamesa as the Nominated Preferred Supplier for Norfolk Vanguard and Norfolk Boreas. We want to accelerate fossil free living in an affordable way for our customers, and we are always aiming for the right partners to make this happen. I am looking forward to the next steps on this grand journey,” says Catrin Jung, Head of Business Unit Offshore at Vattenfall.

Vattenfall is currently in the process of obtaining the Development Consent Orders (DCOs) for the two projects from the UK’s Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The developer had secured the DCO for Norfolk Vanguard back in July 2020, but the decision was quashed following an order issued by the High Court in February 2021. The Judicial Review for the project cited cumulative impacts of Norfolk Vanguard and Norfolk Boreas on Necton, where the onshore infrastructure for the wind farms would be built.

The deadline for a decision on the DCO for Norfolk Boreas has been pushed back several times and is now set for 10 December.