Siemens Power Generation (PG) and the Technical University of Aachen (RWTH) are to cooperate in the further development of key components for wind turbines.

The aim of cooperation here is further development of the drive train for wind turbines, essentially focusing on points such as efficiency, reliability and service life. A further aim of this long-term cooperation project is to assist in recruiting qualified personnel for PG´s fast growing wind power sector. Siemens will be setting up a competence center in Aachen, with a staff of 20 planned for late 2008. The first joint projects with RWTH are planned to kick off as early as January 2008. The Machine Tool Laboratory (WZL) and the Institute for Machine Elements from RWTH are also included in the cooperation project. Development will concentrate on a number of fields including gear box design, fabrication and analysis. Joint activities with the Institute for Machine Elements will push ahead development of bearings for this application.