GE Renewable Energy’s Haliade-X 13MW prototype, the world’s most powerful wind turbine in operation, has received a full type certificate from DNV GL.
This full type certification, which follows a provisional type certification announced in June, provides independent verification that the new turbines will operate safely, reliably and according to design specifications.
Full type certification is a “key step” in enabling customers to obtain financing when purchasing the turbines.
Certifying the Haliade-X involved a series of tests on a 12MW prototype located in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, plus tests of the turbine’s 107 metre blades at the UK’s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult centre in Blyth, UK, and the Massachusetts Wind Technology Testing Center in Boston, US.
GE Renewable Energy offshore wind chief technology officer Vincent Schellings said: “This is a key milestone for us as it gives our customers the ability to obtain financing when purchasing the Haliade-X.
“Our continued goal is to provide them the technology they need to drive the global growth of offshore wind as it becomes an ever more affordable and reliable source of renewable energy.”
“At DNV GL we predict that offshore wind will generate almost 9% of electricity globally by 2050.
One GE Haliade-X 12MW offshore wind turbine can generate up to 67 gigawatt-hours of gross annual energy production, providing enough clean energy to power 16,000 European households.
The Haliade-X has been selected as the preferred wind turbine for the 120MW Skipjack and 1100MW Ocean Wind projects in the US.
GE Renewable Energy recently announced that the prototype has been optimised and is now operating at a 13MW power output.
Testing will continue and the company said it expects to obtain a type certificate for the Haliade-X at 13MW in the first half of 2021.
The Haliade-X 13MW offshore wind turbine will be used in the first two phases of UK’s Dogger Bank offshore wind farm, with a total of 190 units to be installed starting in 2023.