The Haliade-X prototype on the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, is 248 metres high and has 107-metre blades. It also delivers the largest ever energy output from a single wind turbine. The Haliade-X can generate 46.3 GWh of electricity annually, reducing CO2 emissions by 28.1 kilotons.
It is the first ever wind turbine to generate 288 MWh in 24 hours. The scaling-up of (offshore) wind turbines is an important step in generating more renewable energy, accelerating the energy transition and thereby mitigating the effects of climate change. The world's largest offshore wind turbine in operation, GE's Haliade-X prototype, has been upgraded and can now operate at a rated capacity of 14 MW.
Onshore testing
Future Wind (a joint venture between Pondera Development and SIF Holding Nederland) has been working with GE Renewable Energy on this very challenging Haliade-X project at Maasvlakte 2 in Rotterdam since November 2018. Hans Rijntalder, CEO of Pondera says: "The turbine was designed for offshore installation. But first the turbine prototype was installed and is being tested onshore to monitor the results in a more convenient and accessible way. Two complete turbine nacelles were built for this testing phase. One was installed in Rotterdam for extensive field testing. The other was shipped in batches to various specialised test centres around the world. The results of onshore tests eventually lead to type approval and offshore installation."
Models
Ward Gommeren of GE Renewable Energy explains: "The Haliade-X prototype has undergone a number of tough tests to validate the turbine's power curve, loads, grid performance and reliability. The results are now complete. Measurements on the blades are very important because the blades are so much larger than those currently used in other turbines. We need these measurements to confirm the accuracy of our models, which were conceived as an evolving platform from the beginning. Since its installation in 2019, in its 12 MW version, the prototype has been continuously developed and improved, obtaining its type certificate for both the 12 MW and 13 MW outputs.
Moreover, these tests will enable GE Renewable Energy to collect the data needed to obtain further type certificates, an important step in the commercialisation of the Haliade-X."
400 ordered
Meanwhile, 400 turbines have already been ordered. Series production is scheduled to start in the second half of 2021. Haliade-X has been chosen as the preferred turbine for a total of 4,800 MW of offshore wind projects - the 120 MW Skip Jack, the 1.100 MW Ocean Wind projects in the US, and the 3.600 MW offshore wind complex Dogger Bank in the UK.
Hans Rijntalder is proud: "The Dutch high-tech industry benefits enormously from these large orders because Dutch know-how is applied in this turbine, many components are manufactured in the Netherlands and thus make a major contribution to the economy and our status as a supplier of high technology. In addition, it is the Dutch dredging companies that have specialised in installing the turbines at sea. Together with Belgian partners, they dominate offshore wind installations on a global scale."
Haliade-X MW is a great example of intensive collaboration to explore a new area to reduce the energy costs of offshore wind to make it a more competitive source of clean and renewable energy.