by David McPhee
The world’s biggest wind turbine is to undergo UK testing before it enters
production in 2021.
GE Renewable Energy’s Haliade-X 12 megawatt (MW) nacelle is due to be
transported from its production facilities in Saint-Nazaire and Cherbourg
in France to ORE Catapult’s testing facilities in Blyth in the North East
of England.
The Haliade-X turbine blade will undergo a program that will replicate
real-world operational conditions to reduce the time required to validate
performance and reliability.
The LM Wind Power blade will also undergo advanced testing to fully
demonstrate the blade’s ability to withstand peak wind conditions and to
simulate the blade’s readiness for years of operation at sea.
GE Renewable Energy has confirmed it is investing £15 million the Haliade-X
testing.
John Lavelle, president and chief executive of GE’s offshore wind business,
said: “We want to bring the most powerful offshore wind turbine to the
world’s largest offshore wind market and contribute with our technology to
support the UK’s Offshore Wind Sector Deal goal (30 GW by 2030), and UK
Government’s ambition to work for greenhouse emission reduction to
“net-zero” by 2050.
“The extensive experience across the UK offshore wind industry provides us
with the opportunity to partner with various institutions, such as ORE
Catapult, that allow us to test our technology while fostering
competitiveness and partner with local supply chain players that want to
innovate with us and be part of the UK’s offshore wind momentum.”
ORE Catapult chief executive, Andrew Jamieson, added: “Our world-leading,
larger scale test facilities, technical expertise and in-depth knowledge of
the UK offshore wind sector have made us the ideal partner for GE in their
development of the world’s largest and most advanced offshore wind turbine.
“Through our collaboration we will deliver increased UK research, supply
chain development, reduced cost of energy and a significant step on the
path to net zero”.
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