Control & Automation

Siemens Technology Benefits Small Wind Turbine Manufacturer

Phil Black - PII Editor 01/03/2012

192 1 minute read

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Reliable small wind turbines ideal for farmers and small businesses

Siemens wind turbine technology is helping an independent UK manufacturer offer increased reliability in its wind turbines.

Harbon Wind Turbines is based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, and supplies units with rated power of around 60 kW to farmers and small businesses with relatively low energy requirements. The company was seeking a solid brand name with reliability and dependability, and approached Siemens Mechanical Drives about gear units and generators just over a year ago.

Chris Harbon said the Siemens reputation was a major factor in their selection: “As a familiar household name with a proven track record in wind turbine technology, we knew Siemens was a brand we could trust. It’s very important to us to reassure our customers that we use only the very best technology in our products, and it’s helping us win business in a tough economic climate, despite recent feed-in tariff changes.”

Since the initial enquiry, Harbon has built a 60kW trial turbine unit and a number of 55 kW units using Siemens products at the heart of the drive system. The gear unit is a low noise Flender FZA 188B K4 with in-line Siemens motor and shaft directly beneath.

One of Harbon’s most recent orders was for a unit installation on the Isle of Coll in the Hebrides (pictured).

Siemens Mechanical Drives is part of Siemens Industry Automation & Drive Technologies (IA&DT), one of the world’s largest manufacturers of wind turbine technology. As Siemens regional manager Ian Steer commented: “We’re globally recognised but local too, and Harbon liked this. They benefit from our world-leading knowledge, as well as our local base at Leeds for service back-up and parts.”

Chris continued: “Being able to obtain gearbox and motor from a single supplier is also very important to us. We like the whole package – support, technical knowledge, the fact that it’s a technically advanced unit; all these factors matter to us and help us develop our own business.”

More information on Siemens drive train products is available on www.siemens.co.uk/gearunits or tel 0113 385 2500. More information on Harbon is available at www.harbonwindturbines.co.uk, tel 01302 361140.