GE DEBUTS BIG WIND FOR OCEAN

GE Introduces 4.1-113 Offshore Turbine; New Design Delivers 5% More Energy Per Unit…50% Reduction in Installation Time…
March 14, 2011 (Business Wire)

"GE…introduced its 4.1-113 wind turbine, a four-megawatt (MW) class machine that is optimized for offshore use and is designed to bring a new level of reliability to the offshore wind industry. GE has signed a contract to supply a 4.1-113 wind turbine, along with associated services, to Göteborg Energi for installation in the Gothenburg, Sweden harbor in the second half of 2011…This project is supported by the Swedish Energy Agency through its technology program…

"With fewer moving parts, the direct-drive technology provides a simple, reliable design with built-in redundancy and partial operation for major components, all focused on keeping turbines operating reliably at sea. The direct-drive technology eliminates costly gearbox parts, lowering operating expenses, and also relies on an innovative modular approach to maximize in-situ repair and reduce the need for large repair vessels. The 4.1-113 blade design is optimized to maximize energy capture."

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"The 4.1-113 design builds on the evolution of the 3.5 MW direct-drive design, the industry’s most proven offshore direct-drive turbine, and benefits from GE’s experience of more than 16,000 units installed onshore. The base design has been operating since 2005 on a coastal site in Norway in a harsh environment with high wind speed and high turbulence…

"…The equivalent of 50 years of lessons learned is built into the 4.1-113 design, making it the most mature direct-drive design for offshore applications as well as demonstrating levels of reliability on par with GE’s onshore fleet…This project in Gothenburg harbor is part of GE’s offshore footprint European strategy, representing a 340 million Euro investment in its offshore business…"