Tuev Nord to certify Siemens Gamesa's 14-MW offshore wind turbine

German technical services provider Tuev Nord AG has been commissioned to certify the new 14-MW offshore direct-drive (DD) wind turbine designed by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA (BME:SGRE).

Tuev Nord said its order will cover prototype and type certification of the turbine before it goes into serial production.

The concept for the SG 14-222 DD machine, which will be capable of lifting its capacity to 15 MW thanks to a power boost function, was recently presented by the turbine maker. The offshore titan will feature a 222-metre diameter rotor, 108-metre blades and a nacelle weighing 500 metric tonnes.

The prototype is scheduled to come out in 2021, while the turbine will be commercially available in 2024.

Tuev Nord said it will assess the system design for the turbine’s planned life time, which is designed to last 25 years. It will evaluate the complete turbine from top to bottom, the quality along the supply chain and a detailed test programme.

The certification process will further involve testing the turbine against extreme weather conditions in the open sea to meet typhoon-class requirements needed for the Japanese and Taiwanese markets.

"We are very proud that Siemens Gamesa is relying on our expertise for this extraordinary project. The turbine makes it possible to use wind energy with a high efficiency and contributes significantly to the further progress of the energy transition," Silvio Konrad, Tuev Nord managing director and responsible for the energy sector, stated.

Since first unveiling the concept in May 2020, Siemens Gamesa has accumulated 4.34 GW of conditional orders for the new 14-MW unit.

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