Siemens wins US wind power contract

The group just announced that partnered with Cape Wind they have clinched a major contact for the construction of the US’ first utility-scale offshore wind farm.

This is Siemens’ third major US energy project announced in the last week.

Once the contract takes effect late next year, Siemens will supply Cape Wind with industry-leading 3.6 megawatt offshore wind turbines, an offshore Electric Service Platform (ESP) and a long-term service agreement.

Once finished, Cape Wind will have a 468MW capacity. The project is to be situated off the Northeast coast, 20 kilometres offshore from Nantucket at Horseshoe Shoal in the Nantucket Sound. Installation and commissioning is expected in 2016.

“The United States is a key market for Siemens. We are proud to be announcing our third major contract in this market within just a week after a gas-fired combined cycle power plant and the biggest order ever for an onshore wind farm, both in Pennsylvania. This shows that wind and natural gas are not in opposition to each other, but are a rather perfect fit for a sustainable energy system,” said member of the management board and CEO of Siemens’ Energy Sector Michael Suess.

Offshore wind in the United States has significant potential to supply coastal areas with clean energy. Potential offshore locations are situated along the Southern and Northern Atlantic Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico.

A recently published Navigant study awarded by the US Department of Energy predicted that US offshore wind power capacity will rise over the next five years to reach 3.5 gigawatts.

Wind power and energy services are part of Siemens’ Environmental Portfolio. Around 43 per cent of its total revenue stems from green products and solutions. It is one of the world’s leading providers of eco-friendly technologies.