Siemens to supply Deepwater with latest wind power technology

Under the deal, Siemens would supply five of its 6.0 megawatt direct-drive offshore wind turbines for the wind power project, which will be the nation’s first if completed on time.

(Providence-based Deepwater last week submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Interior to build a 200-turbine wind farm off Rhode Island’s coast.)

The announcement of the Deepwater-Siemens deal was made Tuesday at the American Wind Energy Association Offshore Windpower Conference in Baltimore.

The Block Island wind energy project will be the first in the United States and one of the first anywhere in the world to use the new turbine, according to the companies.

“The Siemens turbine is the future of offshore wind, and our partnership with Siemens is a huge advancement and advantage for the Block Island Wind Farm,” William M. Moore, CEO of Deepwater Wind, said in a release. “Not only is Siemens one of the leading technology firms in the world, but they have now agreed to supply Deepwater Wind with their very latest wind turbine technology, one that will move our entire industry forward.”

Siemens has more than 20 years of project experience and more than 2,000 megawatts of installed capacity in European waters alone.

“We are extremely excited to partner with Deepwater Wind, one of the leading developers of offshore wind in North America,” said Mark Albeniz, CEO of the Americas Business Unit of Siemens Energy’s Wind Power Division.

The Block Island Wind Farm will be located in state waters 3 miles southeast of Block Island, and is expected not only to supply energy to New Shoreham but to connect the island to the mainland electricity grid. Currently the island receives its electricity from diesel generators. The wind power project is scheduled to begin construction in 2013 or 2014, although delays are possible.