Siemens Gamesa has installed and commissioned the first prototype of the SG 8.0 167 DD offshore wind turbine in Østerild, Denmark.
According to Siemens Gamesa, the SG 8.0-167 DD prototype will be mainly used for blade tests due to its larger rotor, which has a 167-meter diameter.
The first prototype of the 8MW class was installed and commissioned in Østerild in January 2017 and is used for conducting tests on the electrical system.
The new 8MW direct-drive turbine was launched at the end of last year and is set to be market-ready by 2020.
In order to speed up the time-to-market, Siemens Gamesa is cooperating with the German Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES) for validation of the turbine nacelle. The program is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Most recently, the company announced it had modified the new turbine to address conditions across the Asia-Pacific region. The variant is a tailored model said to meet local codes and standards regarding typhoons, seismic activities, 60 Hertz operation and operation in high and low ambient temperatures. The design will be ready next year, with installation possible by 2020 for Taiwan.