Siemens Energy has recently utilized rail transportation to send 22 wind turbine hubs and nacelles from its Hutchinson, Kansas located wind turbine nacelle assembly factory to a place close to Pomeroy, Washington.
First Shipment of Nacelles by Train
The transporting of nacelles weighing around 87 metric tons by rail instead of road transportation has cut down around 80% of carbon dioxide emissions otherwise discharged by trucks. The company extensively utilizes rail transportation to forward the other parts such as towers and blades to various places in the U.S.
The 22 wind turbine nacelles and hubs are sent by rail transportation to the Lower Snake River Wind Project owned by Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and located near Pomeroy, Washington. The wind turbine nacelles and hubs will be assembled with the blades produced at its Fort Madison, Iowa, located manufacturing facility and the towers for installation at the site. The phase 1 of the 343 MW PSE owned Lower Snake River Wind Project when completed in the year 2012 will produce adequate electricity to meet the power requirements of over 100,000 homes. It will allow the Washington Utility to achieve a total wind power production capability of 773 MW.
Siemens Energy has opened its wind turbine manufacturing facility in an area measuring over 300,000 square foot in Hutchinson, Kansas during December 2010. The facility manufactures wind turbine nacelles for its 2.3 MW and 3.0 MW wind turbines. Currently, the factory employs around 200 workers and anticipates appointing an additional 200 workers when it attains capacity level production capabilities.