Siemens 2008 Annual Report Download - page 55

Products and solutions – Energy Sector 49
We develop and manufacture turbines for wind farms, with over 7,000 turbines installed world-
wide. Our core competencies include the development of rotor blades, which we produce using
our unique, patented IntegralBlade technology. A complete range of turbine services rounds out
our wind power portfolio. In the eld of photovoltaics, we provide solar farms on a turnkey basis.
We’re also active in the hydroelectric market via a 35 percent stake in Voith Siemens Hydro Power
Generation. Entering the wind power business only in 2004, we quickly captured a leading market
position. Today, we’re the world’s No. 1 supplier of offshore wind farms. Our innovations and rep-
utation as a manufacturer of highly reliable wind turbines are enabling us to exploit rapid market
growth, build up market share and widen our competitive lead faster than ever before.
Leveraging our culture of innovation, we’re continually increasing the output and protability of
our wind turbines. For the world’s largest wind farm – the 504-megawatt Greater Gabbard project
off the east coast of England – we’re supplying advanced, low-maintenance turbines with a capac-
ity of 3.6 megawatts. Manufactured in series production, these turbines are currently the largest
in commercial use. We’ve also developed rotor blades of 49 meters in length that can drive
2.3-megawatt turbines even in medium winds, substantially improving energy yields at such loca-
tions. In our ongoing quest to enhance wind turbine efciency, we’ve reached another milestone:
we’re now testing the rst prototype of a Siemens wind turbine that works without a gearbox. By
increasing reliability substantially and thereby minimizing maintenance, this innovation will cut
costs and improve efciency.
We intend to further intensify our activities in new markets like China and India. The market for
weak-wind turbines also offers outstanding growth potential. We expect the wind power market
to grow roughly 17 percent a year. By expanding our production capacities in the wind power busi-
ness and focusing on new market opportunities for other renewables, we’re pushing the targeted
development of our business and proting from market growth driven by climate change and the
rising demand for energy.
Renewable Energy
René Umlauft
CEO
www.siemens.com/energy
Our business is renewable energies: we build wind turbines and tap
the power of the sun. Already the world’s leading supplier of offshore
wind farms, we’re focusing on the continued expansion of our wind
power activities.