Siemens has begun construction at its new wind turbine plant in Cuxhaven, one year after the initial investment decision. Soil compaction and the preparation of the pile foundation, with 1900 concrete piles, have already been completed.
Construction of the actual building was officially started by Siemens with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by both company and political representatives, including Parliamentary State Secretary Enak Ferlemann.
“A new industry is developing at the German north and east coast which is not only beneficial for the labor market, but also for the energy transition,” said Ferlemann. “Cuxhaven is clearly on a solid course for the future.”
On behalf of Siemens and the Wind Power and Renewables Division, CEO Markus Tacke introduced the new project manager Carsten-Sünnke Berendsen. As planned, he is taking on the project from his predecessor, Thorsten Granzow, with the start of the building construction.
During the coming weeks the concrete mixers will start working on the site covering an area of 170,000sq m – a surface comparable to the size of 24 soccer fields. A poured concrete plate 320m long and more than 160m wide will be held in place by the 1900 concrete piles and will form the base of the future production hall. Once production begins, the ground must withstand heavy loads of up to several hundred tons. Civil engineering works for the foundations of the production facility will start during the coming weeks. The completion of the enormous production hall, with heights of up to 30m, is scheduled for mid-2017. With its usable area of round about 55,000sq m, the hall could provide parking for 15 large aircrafts. Besides the assembly hall, a two-story building with about 3800sq m usable area for offices and a canteen as well as a technological building and a gatehouse will also rise at the site.
Production of the 7MW direct drive offshore wind turbines will start in summer 2017, coinciding with the start of manufacturing of the 75m rotor blades at the new plant in Hull, UK. The two offshore manufacturing plants as well as the installation harbor ports will be connected by two specialized transport vessels and will deploy the innovative Siemens roll-on and roll-off logistics concept for loading. By using this approach, Siemens will avoid expensive crane operations for heavy components and increase workplace safety.
Image: Groundbreaking/Siemens
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