GE Renewables unveils components for world’s biggest wind turbine

GE Renewable Energy has this week unveiled the first manufactured components of its Haliade-X 12 MW offshore wind turbine at its production site in Saint-Nazaire, France.

First announced in March of 2018, GE Renewable Energy’s 12 MW Haliade-X will measure 260 meters in height and boast a 220-meter rotor, capable of generating enough clean electricity for 16,000 households.

It is, by far, the world’s largest offshore wind turbine.

And on Monday, the first ever Haliade-X nacelle was revealed to journalists and the world at an event held at GE Renewable Energy’s Saint-Nazaire production facility.

Previously, towers and blades for the first prototype Haliade-X turbine had been revealed as they began their journey from their respective manufacturing sites to the Port of Rotterdam, at Maasvlakte-Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

GE Renewable Energy signed an agreement in January with Future Wind – a Joint Venture between Pondera Development and SIF Holding Netherlands – to install and test the first prototype Haliade-X for a period of 5 years at the Port of Rotterdam, where it will be installed onshore for ease of access.

On Monday, however, GE Renewable Energy unveiled the most important component of its Haliade-X prototype, the 12 MW nacelle. The Saint-Nazaire facility is also assembling a second nacelle which will be shipped to the UK’s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult site at Blyth for testing, after an agreement was signed and announced in late-June.

“Today’s presentation of the first ever Haliade-X 12 MW nacelle at Saint-Nazaire is the start of a key new phase in our ongoing commitment to structuring the offshore wind turbine segment,” crowed Jérôme Pécresse, GE Renewable Energy CEO.

“This project clearly reflects our ability to invest and innovate, supporting our customers on an ultra-competitive market in exponential growth. Thanks to the Haliade-X 12 MW, we are proud to prepare for the future of the offshore wind industry from Saint-Nazaire, a benchmark production site for offshore wind international projects.”

“We are on track to start commercializing this new product very shortly,” added John Lavelle, GE Renewable Energy Offshore Wind CEO.

“Once we have received the type certificate (2020), we will be ready to start mass production and send out the first commercial units by mid-2021. Haliade-X 12MW is an outstanding and strategic project for GE. We aim to meet the requirements of our customers by providing a more affordable and competitive energy source.”