One spin generates enough electricity to power one average Dutch household for more than two days
The Haliade-X prototype in Port of Rotterdam with its new technology and dimensions has set several new standards in the field of sustainable wind energy. This wind turbine, located at the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam (Netherlands), is 248 meters and has blades of 107 meters. Besides, it produces the largest energy yield ever from a single wind turbine. Annually, the Haliade-X can generate 46.3 GWh of electricity, as a consequence, 28.1 kilotons reduce CO2 emissions.
It is the first wind turbine ever to generate 288 MWh over the course of 24 hours. The increase in size and scale of (offshore) wind turbines is an important step in generating more sustainable energy, accelerating the energy transition and thereby limiting the effects of climate change. The world's largest offshore wind turbine in operation, GE's Haliade-X prototype, has been upgraded, or "uprated" and is now capable to operate at a 14 MW rated power output.
Onshore testing
Since November 2018, Future Wind (a Joint Venture between Pondera Development and SIF Holding Netherlands) together with GE Renewable Energy, are working on this very challenging project Haliade-X on the Maasvlakte 2 in Rotterdam. Hans Rijntalder, CEO of Pondera states: “The turbine is designed for offshore installation. But first, the turbine prototype was installed and is being tested onshore to monitor the results in a more easy and accessible manner. Two complete turbines nacelles have been built for this test phase. One has been installed in Rotterdam to be extensively tested in practice. The other has been sent in batches to various specialised test centres around the world. The results of onshore tests ultimately lead to type approval and offshore installation”.
Share models
Ward Gommeren of GE Renewable Energy explains: “The Haliade-X prototype has undergone some tough series of tests to validate the turbine’s power curve, loads, grid performance & reliability. All the results are complete now. Measurements on the blades are very important because the blades are so much larger than the blades that are currently used in other turbines. We need these measurements to confirm the accuracy of our models, which has been conceived from the very beginning as an evolutive platform. Since its installation in 2019, in its 12 MW version, the prototype has been continuously developed and enhanced, obtaining its Type Certificate for both the 12 MW and 13 MW power output.
In addition, these tests will allow GE Renewable Energy to collect the data needed to obtain further Type Certificates, a key step in commercializing the Haliade-X”.
Picture: Peter Eecen (TNO), Diederik de Bruin (Sif) em Vincent Schellings (GE)
400 ordered
Meanwhile, 400 turbines have already been ordered. Serial production is planned to commence in the second half of 2021. Haliade-X has been picked as the preferred turbine for in total 4,800 MW of offshore wind projects -- the 120 MW Skip Jack and the 1,100 MW Ocean Wind projects in the US, and the 3,600 MW Dogger Bank offshore wind complex in the UK.
Hans Rijntalder is proud: “The Dutch high-tech industry benefits greatly from these large orders because Dutch know-how is applied in this turbine, many components are manufactured in the Netherlands and therefore make a major contribution to the economy and our status as a supplier of high-quality technology. In addition, it is the Dutch dredging companies that have specialised in installing the turbines at sea. Together with Belgian partners, they dominate offshore wind installation on a global scale.”
Haliade-X is a great example of intensive cooperation to explore a new area to reduce offshore wind’s cost of energy to make it a more competitive source of clean and renewable energy.
This article is part of the series Project in the Spotlight. Discover more projects here.