GE Renewable Energy’s Haliade-X 12MW offshore wind turbine prototype has received a provisional type certificate from DNV GL.
The provisional type certification demonstrates GE’s Haliade-X prototype has the highest safety and quality standards and provides evidence that its design is on-track to meet the full type certification requirements, said the company.
Testing activities of the 107-metre long blade currently taking place at UK’s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult in Blyth, and at Boston’s Wind Technology Testing Center in the US, will continue as planned to complete the documentation required to get the full type certificate in the months to come.
GE Renewable Energy chief executive John Lavelle said: “This is a very important milestone for us as it confirms the robustness of our Haliade-X 12MW design, and gives certainty to our current and future customers who believe in the attributes of our platform.
“When we introduced the Haliade-X 12 MW we established a new paradigm in the industry, and we will continue to do so by innovating, improving, and introducing new features to our Haliade-X platform, making offshore wind a more affordable and competitive source of renewable energy.”
DNV GL renewables certification executive vice president Kim Moerk added: “GE’s Haliade-X 12MW is a significant breakthrough for the offshore wind industry.
“Developing new and innovative technology always brings an element of uncertainty and risk.
“Type certification is a vital measure to demonstrate that new turbines will operate safely, reliably and according to requirements and we are proud to provide our offshore wind expertise to this important new technology development and support our customers enter into new markets.”
The Haliade-X technology has been selected as preferred wind turbine for the 120MW Skip Jack and 1100MW Ocean Wind projects in the US, and the 3600 MW Dogger Bank offshore wind farm in the UK.
Serial production will start at GE’s Saint-Nazaire factory in France during the second half of 2021.