Dutch energy company Eneco is set to purchase all the electricity generated by GE’s Haliade-X 12MW offshore wind turbine prototype.
This was announced during the inauguration ceremony for the prototype held today, 17 December, at the port of Maasvlakte-Rotterdam.
According to GE, the Haliade-X 12MW prototype set a new world record the past weekend by being the first wind turbine ever to generate 262MWh of clean energy in 24 hours, enough to power 30,000 households in the region.
“We are very proud of our cooperation with Future Wind and GE Renewable Energy, as it enables Eneco to purchase the green power produced by the Haliade-X prototype and to get hands on experience with this innovative and powerful new turbine that represents the future of offshore wind energy,” said Frans van de Noort , COO of Eneco.
Over the next five years, the Haliade-X prototype will undergo a series of tests to validate its power curve, loads, grid performance and reliability.
The tests will also allow GE to validate operational procedures for installation and services teams and obtain a Type Certificate for the Haliade-X in 2020. Commercialization is planned by 2021, with serial production set to start in the second half of 2021.
The Haliade-X has been selected as the preferred turbine for 4.8GW of power in several offshore wind farms, including the 120MW Skipjack and 1,100MW Ocean Wind projects in the U.S., and the 3.6GW Dogger Bank project in the UK.