In a landmark announcement, Siemens Large Drives Applications (LDA) has been awarded a contract to build a 105 MW high-voltage (HV) 2-pole electric motor, setting a new benchmark as the world’s largest of its kind. This record-breaking motor will be deployed in an energy storage project in China, a country rapidly developing strategic energy technologies.
This Siemens motor is designed to deliver outstanding performance with a rated power of 105 MW in motor operation and up to 129 MVA in generator mode. Thanks to its advanced engineering, it will achieve an exceptional efficiency beyond 98%, dramatically reducing power losses.
Technical Highlights of Electric Motor
✅Power: 105 megawatts
✅ Generator capability: up to 129 MVA
✅ Efficiency: >98%
✅ Type: 2-pole synchronous motor
✅ Cooling: advanced water-cooling system
✅ Drive: supported by a 40 MW Sinamics GL150 starting frequency converter
Along with the electric motor, Siemens will deliver a 40 MW starting frequency converter based on load-commutated inverter (LCI) technology. This converter offers extremely high efficiency (99%) thanks to low switching and thyristor losses.
Why is this Motor Important?
This giant electrical motor will serve as part of an energy storage system, an increasingly critical technology for the energy transition and grid stability. The concept works by storing surplus renewable energy in compressed air or other media, and then releasing it to run an expander that generates electricity when needed.
Compared with traditional energy storage systems, these advanced plants offer:
High storage capacity
Low self-discharge
Long service lifetime
Flexibility for large-scale grid balancing
Such a massive electric motor will enable the storage plant to move huge volumes of energy in and out of storage with minimal energy loss, supporting China’s national strategy for a greener energy future.
A Milestone for Industrial Motors
According to Siemens, this electric motor will result in the largest and most efficient energy storage station in the world once completed. It showcases how large electric drives can replace turbines in demanding industrial tasks while providing higher efficiency, lower maintenance, and reduced carbon footprints.
Hermann Kleinod, CEO of Siemens Large Drives Applications, called it a “benchmark” for drive systems, praising its over-98% efficiency and its contribution to the energy transition.
Future Prospects
As industrial electrification accelerates worldwide, motors of this scale will become even more vital. Their ability to support renewable energy, maintain grid stability, and reduce emissions makes them a core element of future-proof power systems. Siemens’ groundbreaking 105 MW motor is an inspiring example of how technology can push boundaries for a sustainable world.
Where will the motor be used?
It will be used in an energy storage project in China to help stabilize the grid.
Why is a 2-pole design important?
A 2-pole motor operates at higher speeds with excellent efficiency, suitable for compressors and grid-scale energy storage.
What role does the frequency converter play?
The 40 MW Sinamics GL150 starting frequency converter helps start the giant motor smoothly with high efficiency.
