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LONG TERM COLLABORATION TESTING THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL TURBINES

In August 2017, GE Renewable Energy and ORE Catapult set out to test and achieve certification for GE’s next-generation offshore wind turbine, the 12MW Haliade-X, and its 107m wind turbine blade, developed by GE-owned LM Wind Power, at the Catapult’s unique test and validation facilities in Blyth, Northumberland. In March 2018, GE announced its ambitious plans to bring the disruptive technology to market in just over two years, which they achieved thanks to the pivotal role of ORE Catapult on the testing front, enabling supply of the turbine to Dogger Bank wind farm, once completed.

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GE's Haliade-X Turbine

Developments like Dogger Bank provide the necessary foundation from which the UK will strive to achieve Net Zero, creating momentum for a strong UK supply chain, thousands of jobs and paving the way for large-scale manufacturing. 

INNOVATION AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE GREEN ENERGY REVOLUTION

ORE Catapult’s unique world-leading test facilities provide an essential part of the type certification process, as well as accelerated life testing of components, in particular bearings, invaluable for potential investors to understand the risks of their long-term investment. These factors were key in attracting GE Renewable Energy to the UK. The collaboration between ORE Catapult and GE includes:

  • A five-year agreement for GE to utilise ORE Catapult’s 15MW drive train and long blade test facilities at Blyth for enhancing existing and developing future offshore wind turbine technology;

  • A £6m combined investment in ORE Catapult’s unique Grid Emulation system, allowing next generation turbines to demonstrate compliance with international electrical network codes and integrate offshore wind into future energy systems, putting the UK in pole position on the global stage on grid compliance technology development;

  • A £9m R&D collaboration, ‘Stay Ashore’, focusing on priorities that drive technology and supply chain improvements in offshore wind;

  • £500k investment over four years in UK academia, specifically the universities of Sheffield and Warwick, who form the ORE Catapult Powertrain Research Hub, focusing on maturing technologies from innovative concepts into viable products and services, while in parallel developing experts in renewable energy who will be well positioned for careers in the UK energy sector;

  • Engaging the UK supply chain through a series of ‘innovation challenges’ aimed at providing access and direct benefit to UK SMEs in the development and commercialisation of innovative products and services for the offshore wind industry in conjunction with ORE Catapult.

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Dogger Bank Operations and Maintenance Base at Port of Tyne

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“Turbine innovation has played a huge role in bringing down the cost of offshore wind, and these world-leading turbines will help us deliver renewable electricity at the lowest cost possible for millions of people across the UK.”

 

Halfdan Brustad, Vice President for Dogger Bank at Equinor.

In late 2019, GE signed an agreement with Dogger Bank Wind Farm joint venture partners to supply all 277 units of the upgraded Haliade-X 13MW & 14MW turbines to the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm, 130 km off the north-east coast of England, set to power around 5% of the UK’s electricity demand. It was important to complete testing in a timely manner in order to secure funding for this historic project. 

 

The Dogger Bank partners state that using GE’s Haliade-X, the most powerful turbines certified to date, enabled them to reach record-low CfD prices for the project in 2019 – the lowest ever seen for a UK offshore wind farm. The projects will trigger approximately £9bn of capital investment into low carbon infrastructure between 2020 and 2026, delivering substantial economic benefits to the UK including approximately 200 long term roles in the North East to work directly on operating and maintaining the wind farm, 170 roles with North Star Renewables in crewing and onshore roles and almost 2,000 roles in total in the UK from contracts announced so far.

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Haliade-X height comparison

In November 2020, a major milestone was reached with type certification achieved for the 107m blade and the Haliade-X, following the successful testing programme. Without ORE Catapult’s contribution the technology would not have been certified in such a short timescale nor investor confidence gained so quickly.

 

The unique collaboration between GE and ORE Catapult is leading to greater renewables capacity, lower electricity prices, increased market competition and a significant boost to investor confidence, enabling us to reduce our carbon emissions and achieve our Net Zero target by 2050.

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GE Renewable Energy & ORE Catapult | Case Studies | ORE Catapult

COLLABORATING FOR GROWTH PLAYBOOK

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