A full prototype Haliade-X 12 MW wind turbine will be installed at a yet-to-be-determined site in 2019, GE Renewable Energy said.
Prior to the installation of the prototype, the nacelle of the next-generation 12MW unit will be delivered to and tested at the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s 15MW drive train test facility in Blyth, Northumberland.
The first GE Renewable Energy offshore wind turbine nacelle to be tested in the UK under a recent research & development agreement has already arrived in Blyth, Northumberland.
Following the approximate 12-month test program on the Haliade 150-6MW, GE’s Haliade-X 12 MW nacelle will be delivered to Blyth for accelerated indoor testing and validation.
John Lavelle , Vice President & CEO of GE’s Offshore Wind business, said: “We decided to take our Haliade 150-6MW to ORE Catapult’s site to be tested under rough and extreme conditions in a short period of time, that will allow us to collect data to be used on our recently announced Haliade-X 12 MW offshore wind turbine. We will utilize the data and learnings to enhance availability and power output, while introducing new features to meet customers’ demands.”
The arrival of the Haliade 150-6MW nacelle marks the beginning of GE’s offshore wind research and development activities in the UK, in close collaboration with ORE Catapult.
ORE Catapult Test & Validation director Tony Quinn said: “GE’s Haliade programs will be the first to use the Catapult’s 15 MW drive train test facility, and the investment in this technology is paramount to bringing such world leading research and development programs to the UK, supporting a strong local supply chain and innovation to service the offshore wind industry’s ambitious growth plans.”