Tower sections for GE's Haliade-X prototype arrive in Rotterdam

GE Renewable Energy announced on Thursday that the four tower sections for the 12-MW Haliade-X offshore wind turbine prototype to be deployed this summer have arrived at the Port of Rotterdam.

As previously announced, the renewable energy arm of US conglomerate General Electric (NYSE:GE) will install the first prototype of this turbine model at the Port of Rotterdam in order to carry out onshore tests.

In January, GE Renewable Energy signed a five-year testing and 15-year full-service operation and maintenance (O&M) contract with Future Wind, a joint venture between Pondera Development and Sif Holding NV (AMS:SIFG). The deal calls for the installation of the prototype at a Sif-owned site in Maasvlakte during the summer of 2019.

On Thursday, GE Renewable Energy noted that the arrival of the four tower sections in Rotterdam will be followed by pre-assembly works, including the installation of some tower segments.

Meanwhile, nacelle and blade components for the turbine are being fabricated in Saint-Nazaire and Cherbourg, France. They are expected to arrive during the summer.

The company explained that the onshore testing of the prototype will enable the gathering of data needed to obtain a Type Certificate. The plan is to enter into serial production in 2021.

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