Wind energy is one of today's most environmentally friendly sources of energy. Wind power generation reduces the need to burn alternative fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. Wind turbines can play an important role in helping remote locations to get power. This can help everything from small villages off-grid to remote research facilities to benefit. Connecting such locations to traditional electricity supplies may be impractical or too expensive. Wind turbines could have the answer in these cases.
GE Renewable Energy uses the wealthiest resources on earth to power the world’s largest economies and remote communities. They develop energy products and digital services that create industry-leading value for their customers around the world with an innovative spirit and an entrepreneurial mindset. By merging onshore and offshore wind, blades, hydro, and innovative technologies, GE Renewable Energy has installed more than 400+ gigawatts of capacity worldwide to improve and clean the world.
GE Renewable Energy and Future Wind jointly said that they signed an agreement during the summer of 2019 to install the first prototype of wind turbines Haliade-X 12 MW in Maasvlakte-Rotterdam (NL). The agreement includes five years of testing and a 15-year full-service agreement for operation and maintenance. Future Wind is a shared enterprise between SIF Holding Netherlands and Pondera Development. Pondera Consult is a renowned Netherlands renewable energy consultant and Sif is a leading steel tubular manufacturer. These tubular are mainly used for the offshore wind market as basic components.
To facilitate access to testing, this Haliade-X 12 MW prototype will be installed onshore. During the initial period of operation, GE Renewable Energy will be able to collect the data necessary to obtain a type certificate. This is also an action in the marketing of the product in 2021. Rotterdam has just started activities to prepare the site for future installation. All components will be sent to Rotterdam are then they will be pre-assembled and installed.
The Haliade-X 12 MW will produce 45 percent more energy than any other available offshore wind turbine. This turbine will be able to generate up to 67 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable energy per year for up to 16,000 households in Europe.