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 and 18 previously sold SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines.
Rolling Hills is in Adair, Adams, and Cass counties in Iowa and 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,” said José Antonio Miranda, CEO of Onshore Americas at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. “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. The blades will be produced right there in Iowa, and the nacelles and hubs will come from neighboring Kansas, making this a truly local project.”
Siemens Gamesa has installed more than 10,000 wind turbines in the U.S. totaling approximately 20 GW of installed capacity. In Iowa, Siemens Gamesa has installed nearly 1,400 wind turbines for a total of almost 3.5 GW. The company has a strong footprint consisting of service, offices, and two manufacturing facilities in Fort Madison, Iowa, and Hutchinson, Kansas.