Anything To Declare? This Colossal Wind Turbine Component Has Just Arrived In The UK

The size of the blade, which will form the rotor of GE’s Haliade-X 12 MW, the world’s largest and most powerful offshore wind turbine, defies superlatives. In fact, the blade — which was popped from its mold at an LM Wind Power factory in Cherbourg, France, in April — might be one of the largest single machine components ever built. Stretching 107 meters, it is twice as long as the wingspan of the Angel of the North, the iconic sculpture just south of Blyth that is the major landmark of this region.

It is twice as long as the wingspan of the Angel of the North, the iconic sculpture just south of Blyth, and a major landmark of this region.

But the blade’s purpose in Blyth is far from ornamental. Over the next year, the component will undergo a full range of advanced testing procedures that will demonstrate its ability to withstand peak wind conditions and simulate the blade’s readiness for years of operation at sea. This includes static component tests where engineers gradually step up the load on the blade to prove its strength and flexibility, in much the same way as an aircraft’s wings are put through their paces.

The Haliade-X 12 MW’s nacelle — the box at the top of a turbine tower that houses the power production kit (made up of the gearbox, generator and controller) — will also be tested in Blyth. The nacelle, which is comparable in size to six double-decker London buses, houses a massive generator that can produce up to 12 megawatts of power, enough to supply 16,000 European households.

The Haliade-X 12 MW’s nacelle — the box at the top of a turbine tower that houses the gearbox, generator and controller — is loaded in Saint-Nazaire, France, bound for Rotterdam, Netherlands, as part of prototype Haliade-X. It will also be tested in Blyth later this fall. Each turbine will be capable of powering 16,000 homes and producing 67 gigawatt-hours per year, based on wind conditions on a typical German North Sea site — that’s 45 percent more energy than any other offshore wind turbine available today.

GE Renewable Energy is investing close to £15 million in testing and research and development activities for the Haliade-X platform, primarily in the U.K. The Haliade-X 12 MW is set to enter serial production in 2021. John Lavelle, the president and CEO of GE’s Offshore Wind business, said: “The extensive experience across the U.K. offshore wind industry provides us with the opportunity to partner with various institutions, such as ORE Catapult, that allow us to test our technology while fostering competitiveness and partner with local supply chain players that want to innovate with us and be part of the U.K.’s offshore wind momentum.”