World’s most powerful offshore wind turbine unveiled

GE Renewable Energy will develop the world’s largest and most powerful offshore wind turbine, generating enough power for up to 16,000 European households every year.

The Haliade-X will produce 45% more energy than any other offshore turbine available today, and feature a 220-meter rotor with blades longer than the size of a professional football field.

It will tower 260 meters above the sea – more than five times the size of the Arc de Triomphe – and include a 12 MW direct drive generator producing 67 GWh annually.

GE plan to invest more than $400m in the project over the next three to five years, and aim to ship its first units in 2021.

CEO, Jérôme Pécresse, said: “It took more than 20 years to install the first 17 GW of offshore wind. Today, the renewables industry forecasts it will install more than 90 GW over the next 12 years.”

“The Haliade-X shows GE's commitment to the offshore wind segment and will set a new benchmark for cost of electricity, thus driving more offshore growth."

GE said that the ability to produce more power from a single turbine will mean fewer are needed in a total wind farm, which will result in less capital expenditure with reduced installation time.

It should also simplify operation and maintenance of farms, reducing the investment and operation cost for developers, making offshore wind projects more profitable, and providing lower cost of electricity for consumers.

Although one turbine will be capable of powering 16,000 European households a year, GE said a 750 MW wind farm configuration would be able to provide energy for up to one million homes.

“The Haliade-X will help our customers in an increasingly competitive offshore environment, and through its size and digital functionality, provide important value across manufacturing, installation and operation,” GE offshore wind CEO John Lavelle, said.

Image credit: GE