In the United States its been announced that Cape Wind will use Siemens turbines as the country’s first offshore wind project strives to qualify for federal tax credits.
Plans to start building the US’s first offshore wind farm this year have taken a major step forward after the developer confirmed it would use 130 Siemens 3.8 megawatts (MW) turbines.
Cape Wind, which is being developed on Horseshoe Shoal, Nantucket Sound, will have a capacity of 454MW once complete.
The project will provide most of the power needed in Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
However, in order to qualify for a key industrial federal tax credit, it must have started construction by January 1, 2014.
Earlier, Cape Wind confirmed it had signed a deal to buy Siemens’ 3.6MW offshore wind turbines and an offshore substation.
The company said that as the “workhorse” of the global offshore wind industry, the machine had proved its reliability.
According to Bloomberg newsagency, construction of some components has already begun to ensure the project qualifies for the tax credit.
“The completion and execution of the contracts between Cape Wind and Siemens brings the experience and financial strength of the leading global offshore wind supplier into America’s first offshore wind farm ensuring important energy, environmental and economic benefits for Massachusetts and the region,” said Jim Gordon, president of Cape Wind in a statement.
The substation will be manufactured in Maine, by German company Cianbro and was designed by Moffatt and Nichol Engineers of Norfolk, Virginia.
