Home » Features » Marine Civils » Marine Renewable Energy » GE to invest €340m in European offshore wind

The move will create as many as 1,900 new clean energy jobs in the UK by 2020, both GE jobs and those created in the associated supply chain with manufacturers of towers, blades, nacelles and other offshore wind technology all locating to the site. This investment is tied to the successful deployment of the UK government’s port development fund, as announced in the Budget the previous day. The intended investment signals GE’s deep commitment to the promising European offshore wind sector.

‘We believe offshore wind has a bright future here in the UK and are delighted that the UK government yesterday committed to further developing this important sector, said Magued Eldaief, managing director of GE Energy UK. ‘These GE investments will position us to help develop Europe’s vast, untapped offshore wind resources, while also creating invaluable new jobs for both GE and our suppliers in the UK.’

UK Business Secretary Lord Mandelson added, ‘This is great news from GE, a vote of confidence in UK low carbon manufacturing which should create a huge number of jobs. The industry has enormous potential for further growth, with significant knock-on benefits for jobs throughout the supply chain.’

‘We’re creating the right conditions and incentives to maximise the potential of our wind resource, said Climate Change and Energy Secretary Ed Milliband. ‘Now we have another leading player entering the offshore wind market as a result. GE’s investment will create new jobs and help the supply chain flourish, reinforcing the UK as the destination for offshore wind investment.’

At the core of GE’s European expansion plans is the development of GE’s next generation wind turbine, a 4MW machine designed specifically for offshore deployment. As the largest wind turbine in GE’s fleet, it will incorporate advanced drive train and control technologies gained through GE’s acquisition of ScanWind. The 4MW wind turbine will feature GE’s innovative technology that eliminates the need for gearboxes. GE’s UK manufacturing facility will produce the new 4MW offshore wind turbine and future generations of GE’s offshore technology. This technology is already being demonstrated at a test site in Hundhammerfjellet, Norway where the first ScanWind direct drive unit has been operating for more than five years.

‘GE’s proven reliability on more than 13,500 land units coupled with ScanWind’s proven offshore, gearless design enables us to provide our customers the reliable solutions necessary for the offshore wind industry, said Victor Abate,vice president of GE Power & Water’s Renewable Energy business. ‘These announcements lay the foundation for us to begin scaling our offshore business, technology and supply chain locally in Europe where we see the greatest growth opportunity.’

In addition to the UK investment, GE also announced development of new offshore wind turbine facilities in three other European countries:

A new engineering center in Hamburg will feature product development, application engineering and advanced technology. GE also plans to expand its resources at its existing wind turbine manufacturing facility in Salzbergen, as well as the GE Global Research Center in Munich. This will result in approximately 100 jobs and a €105m investment related to GE’s offshore wind business in Germany by 2016.

GE will add to its existing footprint in Norway with plans to create a new Offshore Technology Development Center in Oslo, and will expand its advanced demonstration unit production and service facilities in Verdal. GE also has joined the Nowitech Research Center in Norway to participate in joint research projects on offshore wind topics. Norway is the planned site for the testing and demonstration of the first 4MW wind turbines offshore. This will result in approximately 100 jobs and a €75m investment related to GE’s offshore wind business in Norway by 2016.

In Sweden, GE will also expand its current offshore wind facilitites by developing a Conceptual and Systems Design Center in Karlstad. A technology demonstration unit is planned to be installed in Gothenburg harbour, and GE also will join the Chalmers Wind Energy Center in Gothenburg. This will result in approximately 50 jobs and a €50m investment related to GE’s offshore wind business in Sweden by 2016.