The first GE Renewable Energy offshore wind turbine nacelle to be tested in the UK under a recent research & development agreement has been delivered to the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s world-leading 15MW drive train test facility in Blyth, Northumberland.
The Haliade 150-6MW nacelle, containing the direct drive offshore wind turbine’s Permanent Magnet Generator, will undergo advanced test and demonstration programmes that accurately replicate real-world operational conditions to further enhance performance and reliability.
The nacelle was shipped from GE Renewable Energy’s factory in Saint-Nazaire, France, on board the vessel Happy Sky. Following the approximate 12-month test programme on the Haliade 150-6MW, GE’s next generation Haliade-X 12 MW nacelle will be also delivered to Blyth for accelerated indoor testing and validation, while a full prototype unit will be installed at a yet-to-be determined site in 2019.
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 utilise the data and learnings to maximise availability and power output, while introducing new features to meet customers’ demands.”
Commenting on the arrival of the Haliade-150, ORE Catapult Test & Validation Director Tony Quinn said: “GE’s Haliade programmes will be the first to use the Catapult’s 15MW drive train test facility, and the investment in this technology is paramount to bringing such world-leading research and development programmes to the UK, supporting a strong local supply chain and innovation to service the offshore wind industry’s ambitious growth plans.”
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.
GE’s Haliade 150-6MW offshore wind turbine is capable of generating sufficient electricity to power 5000 homes, and since December 2016 is successfully powering America’s first offshore wind farm in Block Island (Rhode Island), while 66 units are currently being installed at Merkur’s offshore wind farm in Germany.