Siemens Gamesa has filed a legal case against GE Renewable Energy alleging the latter’s Haliade-X offshore turbine infringes patents covering the German-Spanish manufacturer’s direct drive technology.
The case was filed on 29 September in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Siemens Gamesa said it is “determined to protect” its offshore direct drive technology and “believes firmly in the case against GE”.
“As the global leading provider of offshore wind turbines with more than 1,000 offshore Direct Drive turbines installed and more than 2,000 sold, Siemens Gamesa is strongly committed to the offshore wind power market and invests heavily in research and innovation to increase efficiency and reduce the levelized cost of energy,” the company said in a statement.
“The protection of intellectual property rights is essential to foster continued investments in innovation.”
GE said it will “vigorously defend” the case, which it says has “no merit”.
“This action appears to be a retaliatory move in response to our earlier lawsuits filed against them to protect GE’s IP rights.”
GE launched a claim over the summer against Siemens Gamesa alleging that the latter’s turbines infringe the US manufacturer’s patented low-voltage-ride-through and zero-voltage-ride-through technologies.
This case has been taken to the US International Trade Commission.