Siemens Gamesa fully adopts cost saving Ro/Ro logistics concept

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA (BME:SGRE) on Tuesday said its Ro/Ro offshore logistics concept is now fully implemented following the first load of nacelles from Cuxhaven, Germany for the 309-MW Rentel wind park off Belgium.

The turbine manufacturer set up a blade plant in the harbour of Hull, England in 2016 and opened a nacelle factory in Cuxhaven last year, eliminating road transportation of large turbine components from factories to installation ports. And instead of using cranes to load tower sections or nacelles, components are rolled on and off of two purpose-built transport vessels, which were inaugurated in 2016.

The company unveiled the Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro/Ro) shipping concept in November 2015. "The experiences we have made over the last month confirm that the expected savings of up to 20 percent in logistics costs compared to traditional transport procedures will be fully met," said Siemens Gamesa's offshore chief executive Andreas Nauen.

"As our manufacturing footprint and logistics concepts continue to mature, we make additional progress on lowering the Levelized Cost of Energy for offshore wind," Nauen also said.

Siemens Gamesa will deliver all 42 units of its SWT-7.0-154 turbine for the Rentel offshore wind park over the coming weeks. The wind power plant is expected to be fully commissioned later in 2018. The Cuxhaven nacelle plant will also supply the nacelles for the 588-MW Beatrice wind farm and the 1,218-MW Hornsea One project in the UK.

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