The best defense is a good offense. The current troubles in India, where existing problems with converting tender results to concrete agreements on new projects have been made worse by the coronavirus' continued spread in the country, haven't kept Siemens Gamesa from increasing its efforts: Thursday, the wind turbine manufacturer launches a new, larger model for the market.

With a capacity of 3.4 MW – with potential to power-optimize to 3.6 MW – the turbine is a considerable upgrade from its 2.2 MW predecessor. And the rotor is extended by 23 meters to 145 meters, which the manufacturer says means a total increase in annual energy production (AEP) by 48 percent.

"The Indian market is evolving fast and so adapting to the new market dynamics is key to our success and long-term competitiveness," says Siemens Gamesa Onshore Chief Executive Alfonso Faubel, pointing out that the Indian market is still predicted to become one of the world's largest.

"The long-term fundamentals of the wind industry remain strong and this new turbine means Siemens Gamesa is uniquely positioned to help our customers achieve their renewable energy goals, reinforce our leading position in the market and accelerate the cause for renewables."

Dynamic market conditions

The new turbine's composition might seem immediately atypical, a combination of the 3 MW platform's nacelle and the rotor of the 4 MW model. Despite the growth compared to the preceding turbine, this reflects that wind conditions are far from excellent in some areas of India. Moreover, with the new control and cooling systems, the platform is designed to "adapt to India's extreme and varying weather conditions."

A forecast that could be said to also be a good figurative fit for the Indian market. Nevertheless, Siemens Gamesa, which has commissioned a prototype of the turbine in Spain but plans to produce it locally, holds that the timing is right for it to become commercially available at the end of the year.

"The launch of the new SG 3.4-145 wind turbine is an important element in our strategy, and we are confident that it is entering the Indian market at the right time to bring enhanced value for our customers in this competitive environment. With a robust product in hand and a dedicated team in place, we are strongly positioned to serve their needs amidst the dynamic market conditions," says Siemens Gamesa India CEO Navin Dewaji.

English Edit: Jonas Sahl Jørgensen

Siemens Gamesa's new ownership approved 

Suzlon CEO resigns after major loss