GE goes native with 3.4MW turbine

GE Renewable Energy has launched a North American version of its 3.4MW onshore wind turbine.

The turbine, which was released in Europe in November, now includes a 60Hz version of the 3.4MW unit with a rotor diameter of 130 or 137 meters.

The company said the 3.4-130 model has a tower height of 85 meters, while the 3.4-137 is 110 meters.

GE said the units are the company’s most powerful onshore wind turbines, with the 3.4-137 turbine capable of 24% higher output than existing technology.

The latest announcement – at the AWEA Windpower 2016 annual conference in New Orleans – follows on the success of its 2MW turbines introduced a year ago, the company said.

The 3MW turbines also feature GE’s Digital Wind Farm software analytics, which uses a virtual modelling system to enhance turbine configuration and site layout.

The turbines are also configurable to meet IEC class IIIA, IIB and IIIB wind conditions, GE said.

GE onshore wind president and chief executive office Anne McEntee said: “We were pleased to see strong orders when we launched our new 2MW machines, and the addition of a 3MW option gives our customers more flexibility for land-constrained areas and regions with complex geographies throughout North America.”

Image: GE has launched the 3MW platform on the back of the success of the 2MW units (GE)