The world's longest offshore wind turbine blade has arrived at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult's testing facilities in Blyth, Northumberland.
The 107 metre LM Wind Power blade will be put through its paces at ORE Catapult's world-leading 100m blade-test facility over the coming months and is designed to operate from GE Renewable Energy's Haliade-X 12 MW turbine, which is also the biggest to date.
The blade will undergo a full range of advanced testing procedures, demonstrating its ability to withstand peak wind conditions and simulating its readiness for years of operation at sea. Three other 107 metre blades will soon be shipped to a prototype site in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Shipping and testing the first components of the Haliade-X 12 MW keeps GE Renewable Energy on track to commercialise the technology in 2021. Haliade-X 12 MW will contribute to making offshore wind more affordable and help developers drive the global growth of offshore wind, generating substantial economic and environmental benefits.
