Siemens Gamesa Wins Repowering Order for 430 MW Rolling Hills Wind Farm

Siemens Gamesa has been selected for the largest repowering order to date in North America, for the Rolling Hills wind power project.

Siemens Gamesa has been selected by MidAmerican Energy Company for the Rolling Hills wind power project for a total of 429.3 MW, the largest repowering order to date in North America. The company will repower the project with 163 SG 2.7-129 turbines and 18 previously sold SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines.

Rolling Hills is located in Adair, Adams and Cass counties in Iowa and currently features 193 SWT-2.3-101 turbines. The repowering project includes replacement of the blades, hubs and nacelles for all units and top tower sections for the SG 2.7-129 units. Commissioning of the project is expected for late 2021.

The SG 2.7-129 turbine builds on the robust and successful 2.3-MW geared product series.

“We are excited to provide upgraded equipment and technology to the Rolling Hills project in Iowa, a national leader in the wind energy industry. This new project is a testament to MidAmerican Energy’s confidence in us as well as Iowa, where we have supplied them with more than 2.6 GW,” said José Antonio Miranda, CEO of Onshore Americas at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. “The blades will be produced right here in Iowa and the nacelles and hubs will come from neighbouring Kansas, making this a truly local project.”

Recently, the company had revealed that it had received its first preferred supplier nomination for an offshore wind project in Japan. The agreement with customer Obayashi Corporation currently includes using SG 8.0-167 DD offshore wind turbines for the Northern Akita Offshore Wind Farm project, and a long-term service agreement. The Northern Akita pipeline will reach a capacity of up to 455 MW at a site located in the northern region of Tohoku, Japan.

In May, the Spanish firm became the first wind turbine manufacturer to attain an investment-grade rating. The company obtained a BBB- long-term credit rating, with a positive outlook, from Standard & Poor’s (S&P), and a Baa3 outlook stable rating from Moody’s.