DNV GL issues Type Certificate for Siemens new flagship 7MW offshore wind turbine

Siemens SWT-7.0-154 generates around 10% more energy than 6MW machines at windiest sites. DNV GL certification enables Siemens to bring its latest design to market ahead of schedule

DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, has awarded Siemens Wind Power with final Type Certification for its new 7-megawatt offshore wind turbine SWT-7.0-154, confirming full IEC-61400-22 compliance ahead of schedule.

The new award-winning Siemens model delivers nearly ten per cent more energy production than its predecessor under offshore wind conditions, while retaining the same proven reliability. The new 7-megawatt offshore wind turbine has been developed by Siemens as an evolution of the company’s flagship offshore wind turbine, the SWT-6.0-154, which has already set new industry standards in terms of gearless turbine design.

As demand for offshore turbines to deliver ever higher power output to reduce the levelised cost of energy continues to increase, timelines to develop optimised types become increasingly tight. To meet industry and customer expectations, it was crucial for Siemens Wind Power that the newly developed SWT-7.0-154 is IEC Type Certified and reached the market on time. DNV GL’s optimised project management provided the Type Certification ahead of schedule, giving Siemens Wind Power a strong basis for the further development of the Large Direct Drive Turbines.

To confirm ultimate operational safety and reliability of the most innovative wind turbine on the market today, DNV GL’s expert understanding of the turbine’s advanced technical specifications was crucial. Building on experiences from the previous certification process of the 6 MW offshore wind turbine SWT-6.0-154 and the recent SWT-7.0-154 prototype certification both sides have continued to work closely together on this project.

Steffen Haupt, Global Head of Business Development and Sales, Renewables Certification at DNV GL, commented: “Conscious of the current state of the industry it was vital we deliver this project on schedule. We understand our customers’ time pressures and the demand to continuously bring the latest turbine innovations to the market. This is why optimised project management combined with in-depth technical expertise was vital for our work with Siemens, allowing the company to confidently demonstrate the safety and reliability of their ground-breaking new 7MW turbine.”

Vicente Garcia, Portfolio Manager Offshore Certification at Siemens Wind Power added: “At Siemens Wind Power we felt it was critical to rely on our long-lasting partnership with DNV GL as certification body in this upgrade of our D7 platform, as we were confident in their ability to help us reduce the final time to market. What’s more, the extensive collaboration during the initial scoping phase was a key factor for the final outcome of delivering the project to a successful result by obtaining Type Certificate ahead of schedule and provides a strong basis for the further development of the Large Direct Drive Turbines. I want to express my special thanks to both Project Managers and teams at DNVGL and SWP: Mersudin Bajric, Principal Project Manager Type Certification (DNV GL), and Esti Utami Povlsen, certification project manager (SWP), for their level of commitment and hard work.”

Moving forward, DNV GL has also been contracted to work with Siemens on the upgrade of the 7MW including the powerboost feature to increase the power output.