Siemens enters wind market in Belgium

Siemens Energy has secured its first wind power contract in Belgium with an order for the first phase of the Wind aan de Stroom project on the left bank of the Schelde River in Antwerp harbor.

This first phase consists of 11 direct-drive wind turbines of the Siemens D3-platform; the project can however be extended to 17 wind turbines. Component deliveries will start in early 2015 and installation of the turbines is scheduled for summer 2015.

The contract includes a service and maintenance agreement for a period of 15 years.

The project was put out to tender by Wind aan de Stroom, a partnership between Gemeentelijk Havenbedrijf Antwerpen, Maatschappij Linkerscheldeoever and GEHA.

“One of the challenges of the project is the installation of the turbines on tight sites in the port due to a high density of industrial and harbor operations”, says Jan Kjaersgaard, CEO Onshore of Siemens Wind Power. “Our D3 direct-drive wind turbines ordered for Wind aan de Stroom match these preconditions due to their compact design and low weight.” The turbines are rated at 3 megawatts each and will be mounted on 115 meter towers. The rotor diameters are 113 meters, one turbine will be equipped with a 101 meter rotor due to specific site conditions.

“We have estimated that Siemens' proposition was the one which matched our requirements best in terms of safety, production and price,” says Giovanni Vercammen, CEO of Wind aan de Stroom.

The wind power plant will be integrated in a smart grid which is currently developed as part of a pilot project with the Belgian DSO Eandis. The energy production of the turbines will therefore be controlled through the smart grid. Eandis will research new technologies which will allow the connection of more renewable energy for a more affordable price and in shorter time spans.

Wind power and energy service are part of Siemens' Environmental Portfolio. Around 43 percent of its total revenue stems from green products and solutions. That makes Siemens one of the world's leading providers of eco-friendly technology.