GE introduces new renewables business, broadens 3-MW wind platform

US conglomerate General Electric (NYSE:GE) on Tuesday presented its new Renewable Energy business, which in turn unveiled a new family of 3-MW onshore wind turbines.

At European Wind Energy Association’s (EWEA) 2015 Annual Event in Paris, GE Renewable Energy, as the new business is called, introduced the 3.4-130 and 3.4-137 turbine models through which it seeks to “address the complexities of European wind conditions”.

The new offerings are GE’s most powerful onshore turbines offered to date, especially the 3.4-137 machine which provides up to 24% higher output than the 2.75-120 model. The hardware platform offers five tower height combinations, with hub heights ranging from 85 metres to 155 metres. It also features the modular software analytics of GE's Digital Wind Farm.

GE, which just recently closed its acquisition of Alstom’s power and grid businesses, said in a press release that the new renewables business broadens its global wind footprint to over 30,000 turbines and substantially grows its presence in regions like Europe and Latin America. Particularly in Europe, GE’s installed base is to expand by about 50% because of the Alstom transaction, it noted.

The expanded renewables business now also features an offshore wind segment that counts Alstom’s 6-MW Haliade 150 turbine among its offerings. The particular machine has already been ordered for a number of installation in French and German waters and even for the US’ first such facility off the Rhode Island coast.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!