Meet the largest, most powerful offshore wind turbine: The Haliade-X

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GE Haliade-X – The world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine in operation

Featuring a 12 MW direct drive generator and an industry leading gross capacity factor of 63 percent1 the Haliade-X will produce 45 percent more energy than any other offshore turbine available today2. GE will invest more than $400 million over the next three to five years in development and deployment of the Haliade-X.

A single rotation can power a household for 2 days.

We want to lead in the technologies that are driving the global energy transition. Offshore wind is one of those technologies and we will bring the full resources of GE to make the Haliade-X program successful for our customers.

John Flannery, Chairman and CEO of GE

Towering 260 meters over the sea, more than five times the size of the iconic Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, it is similar to the the worlds biggest machine, the Haliade-X 12 MW carries a 220-meter rotor. Designed and manufactured by LM Wind Power, the 107-meter-long blades will be the longest offshore blades to date and will be longer than the size of a soccer field. One Haliade-X 12 MW turbine will generate up to 67 GWh annually2, enough clean power for up to 16,000 households per turbine, and up to 1 million European households in a 750 MW windfarm configuration.

One turbine is able to produce 13 megawatts of power… enough to light up a town of roughly 12,000 homes.

The renewables industry took more than 20 years to install the first 17 GW of offshore wind. Today, the industry forecasts that it will install more than 90 GW over the next 12 years. This is being driven by lower cost of electricity from scale and technology. 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.

Jérôme Pécresse, President and CEO of GE Renewable Energy

The ability to produce more power from a single turbine means a smaller number of turbines in the total farm, which translates to less capital expenditure for the balance of plant and reduced risk in project execution as the installation cycle time is reduced. It also simplifies operation and maintenance of the wind farm. All of this reduces the investment and operation cost for developers, makes offshore wind projects more profitable, and ultimately lowers cost of electricity for consumers.

  • Haliade-X brings higher value to customers by producing more energy from the wind with a 12 MW generator rating, an industry-leading capacity factor1 and advanced digital capabilities
  • Haliade-X 12 MW is currently being bid for projects that will ship in 2021
  • Haliade-X 12 MW will produce 45 percent more energy than any other offshore wind turbine available today and will generate up to 67 GWh annually2, enough renewable power for up to 16,000 European households2
  • $400 million program will fund engineering, testing and supply chain development over the next three to five years

Haliade-X is not only the most powerful wind turbine in the world, but that it also features a 60-64% capacity factor — five to seven points above industry standard.

The Haliade-X 12 MW will help GE customers in an increasingly competitive offshore environment, and through its size and digital functionality provide important value across manufacturing, installation and operation.

GE’s Haliade-X platform is designed to offer greater efficiency in generating power from the wind that is available. With a 63 percent gross capacity factor1, the Haliade-X 12 MW is five to seven points above the current industry benchmark. Therefore, it will produce more energy per MW installed, which will significantly increase returns for customers.

According to wind conditions on a typical German north sea site, one Haliade-X 13 MW turbine can generate up to 64 to 74 GWh of gross annual energy production, saving up to 52,000 metric tons of CO2, which is the equivalent of the emissions generated by 11,000 vehicles in one year.

To design and build the Haliade-X platform, GE Renewable Energy is relying on an unprecedented collaboration across the GE portfolio, leveraging the knowledge of GE’s Onshore wind team, with 50,000 turbines in the field; the blade expertise of LM Wind Power; the GE Power and GE Aviation engineers for peer reviews of component and systems design; the Global Research Center for control systems and component validation; and GE Digital for supporting digital modelling, analytics and app development. The program is a GE-wide effort.

Haliade-X turbines would feature as part of the world’s largest offshore wind farm. located off the north-east coast of England, the dogger bank wind farm will be completed in phases before reaching full commercial operations in 2026. phases A and B will feature a total of 190 Haliade-X 13 MW offshore wind turbines, which are scheduled to deliver the first electricity in 2023. on completion, dogger bank wind farm is expected to power up to 6 million homes annually in the UK, equivalent to 5% of the UK’s total electricity demand.

  1. “Capacity factor” compares how much energy was generated against the maximum that could have been produced at continuous full power operation during a specific period of time.
  2. Based on wind conditions on a typical German North Sea site.

Frequently Asked Questions on Haliade-X Offshore Wind Turbine

What is the Haliade-X offshore wind turbine?

The Haliade-X offshore wind turbine is currently the most powerful wind turbine in operation. It is designed and manufactured by GE Renewable Energy and is specifically built for offshore wind farms.

How much energy does the Haliade-X turbine produce?

The Haliade-X turbine can generate up to 67 GWh (gigawatt-hours) of energy annually. This is equivalent to powering approximately 16,000 households with clean electricity.

How does the Haliade-X compare to other offshore wind turbines in terms of energy production?

Compared to other offshore wind turbines available today, the Haliade-X can produce 45 percent more energy. Its 12 MW (megawatt) generator rating sets a new benchmark in the industry.

What is the capacity factor of the Haliade-X turbine and how does it affect its efficiency?

The Haliade-X turbine boasts an impressive capacity factor of 60-64 percent. This means it can generate a higher percentage of its maximum potential power output, making it more efficient and productive than other turbines.

What are the dimensions of the Haliade-X turbine, including the rotor size and blade length?

The Haliade-X turbine is truly massive, with a rotor size of 220 meters and blades that measure 107 meters in length. This makes the blades longer than a soccer field and allows the turbine to harness more wind energy.

How many households can a single Haliade-X turbine power?

A single rotation of the Haliade-X turbine can power a household for up to 2 days. With its capacity to generate 13 MW of power, it is capable of lighting up a town of roughly 12,000 homes.

What is the expected cost of electricity from the Haliade-X turbine compared to other offshore wind turbines?

The Haliade-X turbine aims to set a new benchmark for the cost of electricity in the offshore wind industry. By producing more energy per MW installed, it reduces the overall investment and operation costs for developers, ultimately lowering the cost of electricity for consumers.

How does the Haliade-X contribute to the global energy transition and the growth of offshore wind?

GE is committed to leading in the technologies driving the global energy transition. The Haliade-X turbine represents their dedication to offshore wind and will contribute to the growth of this sector by delivering more renewable energy and driving down costs.

What is the investment and development plan for the Haliade-X turbine?

GE plans to invest over $400 million in the development and deployment of the Haliade-X turbine over the next three to five years. This investment will fund engineering, testing, and supply chain development to ensure the success of the program.

What role does GE play in the design and manufacturing of the Haliade-X turbine?

The design and manufacturing of the Haliade-X turbine involve a collaboration across multiple divisions within GE. The expertise of GE’s Onshore wind team, LM Wind Power for blade manufacturing, GE Power and GE Aviation for component design, GE’s Global Research Center for validation, and GE Digital for digital modeling and analytics, all contribute to the creation of this cutting-edge turbine.

Credit: GE

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