India: GE launches Digital Wind Farm solution in India

GE announced recently the launch of its Digital Wind Farm solution in India. It is a dynamic, connected and adaptable wind energy ecosystem that leverages big data and analytics and pairs a world-class turbine with a digital infrastructure. This in turn enhances production, reduces cost and boosts availability and productivity over the life of the wind farm. This launch signifies the beginning of an important phase in technological innovations for the renewable energy market in India. Enhancing its product portfolio in the wind energy space, GE also unveiled the latest version of its wind turbine hardware, the 2.3–116 machine, which comes with enhanced control technology and safety features; a new 94 meter tower height; and has the largest 116 meter diameter rotor in the country, offering approximately 30%% more gross Annual Energy Production (AEP) over its predecessor, the 1.7-103.

“As India advances toward its clean energy goals, GE Renewable Energy has been actively partnering in the country’s progress. We launched the 1.7-103 wind turbine, designed and assembled in India, two years ago. Its successor, the 2.3-116, is ideal for India’s low wind speed conditions. Additionally, our Digital Wind Farm technology enables integration of higher amounts of wind energy crucial to support 24 X 7 ‘Power For All’ mission of the government. We are hopeful that by effectively harnessing the power of technology, renewable energy will continue becoming a mainstream source of power in India”, said Anne McEntee, President & CEO of GE’s Onshore Wind business.  

The Digital Wind Farm leverages the Industrial Internet and GE’s Predix platform to improve asset performance, optimize operations and enhance business performance. Its applications include Wind PowerUp Services, Wind Energy Forecasting, PulsePOINT Condition Monitoring System and WindCONTROL Farm Control System.  PowerUp, for instance, is a solution that brings together software and hardware-enabled technologies to increase a wind farm’s output by up to 5%, taking into account environmental conditions. Wind Energy Forecasting enables integration of a larger amount of wind power into the grid by scheduling dispatches without placing incremental stress on the grid.

“India is pursuing an aggressive strategy to build renewable energy capacities to ensure a sustainable energy mix and meet future demand for electricity. It therefore becomes imperative to adopt smart energy systems to integrate increasing amount of renewable power. The need of the hour is to bring renewable energy generation to mainstream, thereby taking the load off conventional sources of power generation. GE has been at the forefront of introducing path-breaking innovations like Digital Wind Farm Technology. The convergence of heavy, industrial equipment such as wind turbines and digital technologies that will go on to play a transformative role in bringing renewable energy to mainstream and strengthen capacity building”, said Banmali Agrawala, President & CEO, GE South Asia.