Siemens 2012 Annual Report Download - page 42

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The largest single-cast fiberglass component
But Jens Hald Jensen has no time for visions today. Because once
the turbine is assembled, it’s time to hoist up the three giant rotor
blades with steel cables. “This is the biggest rotor blade we’ve ever
installed,” notes Jensen. “It’s a monumental challenge to hoist up
the blades – which have a total rotor diameter of  meters – and
attach them to the turbine.” Each rotor blade looks a bit like a
beached whale, and people standing beside it look as small as they
would next to one of the giant creatures of the sea. After all, the
B is the largest single-cast fiberglass component ever constructed.
And it’s innovations like this one that Jensen always finds exciting.
“Our intense involvement in this field demonstrates very clearly
that we intend to be pioneers in shaping the future of energy,” he
says during a break. “The products shown here in Østerild under-
score our commitment to leadership.”
Our technologies are bringing the future of energy closer
Siemens offers its customers not only wind power installations but
also a broad portfolio of other products and solutions that will facil-
itate the transition to a new energy infrastructure: long-distance
low-loss high-voltage direct-current transmission systems, compo-
nents for the smart grid of the future, gas turbines with record effi-
ciencies, and high-efficiency electric motors that cut energy con-
sumption. Only an integrated technology company with a broad
portfolio can provide such a complete range of offerings – thus
strengthening public confidence that the transition to a new energy
system can indeed be achieved. Because rebuilding our energy
infrastructure will require much more than “just” phasing out nuclear
energy. Many individual innovations along the entire energy chain
will have to fit together perfectly like the pieces of a puzzle in order
to make tomorrow’s energy supply both reliable and sustainable.
And it’s here that our Environmental Portfolio is equipping us to
play a key role.
In Østerild, we’ve just taken another step forward. After hours of
exacting work, two crane operators and a handful of our technicians
have attached the three rotor blades to the wind turbine. Jens Hald
Jensen looks up with rapt attention, captivated by the imposing
sight. “These rotor blades have a very special magic for me,” he
says pensively. “I saw them while they were still on the ground, I
was there when they were raised up, and now I’m watching them
rotate and produce energy – it’s simply magical.” Nothing more
stands in the way of the exhaustive testing that will follow in the
weeks ahead. But for now, Jensen has called it a day. “We did it!”
he exclaims, making no attempt to hide his feelings. “We’ve just
installed one of the world’s largest wind turbine rotors – now that’s
something you just have to be proud of.”
Dr. Felix Ferlemann, CEO, Siemens Wind Power
“Every second that the rotor, which has
a total diameter of 154 meters,
operates at a wind speed of ten meters
per second, it captures the energy
of 200 metric tons of air.”
Thanks to an innovative production
process that eliminates the use of
adhesive joints, the rotor blades are
% lighter than their conventionally
manufactured counterparts – reduc-
ing operating costs and making wind
energy more attractive.
 km/h
or

meters per second
Maximum rotational speed