- The Haliade-X 12MW has been designed for offshore environments.
- The mega turbine tops out at a height of 260 meters and each blade is 107 meter long.
- The prototype `is being installed onshore in Maasvlakte, Rotterdam in order to make testing access easier.
A ground breaking ceremony took place on Monday this week in Maasvlakte, Rotterdam for the construction of the the Haliade-X 12MW test site. Construction of the turbine’s foundations began earlier this year. Its nacelle, blades and tower prototype parts will arrive mid-year.
In January 2019, GE Renewable Energy signed an agreement with Future Wind, a joint venture between SIF Holding Netherlands and Pondera Development, to install the prototype.
While it has been designed for offshore environments, GE Renewable Energy said the prototype would be installed onshore in order to “facilitate access for testing.” The deal also includes five years of testing as well as a 15-year full service operation and maintenance agreement.
Details of the Haliade-X 12 MW turbine were first announced by GE in March last year. It will be the biggest turbine in the world to date standing at 260 meters with a blade length of 107 meters. Capacity output is 12MW.
“We are on schedule to install the biggest and more powerful wind turbine in the world,” GE’s Vincent Schellings said in a statement Monday. Schellings added that the turbine would “contribute to make offshore wind energy more competitive.” GE is investing $400 million in the development and deployment of the Haliade-X.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
