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GE to provide 4MW turbines for Ohio offshore wind project

GE acquired its direct drive offshore wind technology buying Norwegian firm ScanWind last year

One of the leading candidates to become America’s first freshwater offshore wind farm looks set to use wind turbines made by US manufacturer GE.

The company has agreed a long-term partnership with the consortium developing a 20-megawatt project for the Ohio waters of Lake Erie.

Under the partnership with the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo), GE will provide five of its next-generation four-megawatt wind turbines for the project being proposed for an area near downtown Cleveland.

The turbines would be GE’s new “direct drive” machines, which do not have a gearbox, and are said to be more efficient at generating power as a result.

The announcement was made this morning, as the wind industry’s annual conference, WindPower 2010, got underway in Dallas, Texas.

Step forward

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland said the partnership with GE was a “significant step forward” for the project.

He said: “This partnership will not only advance offshore wind technologies, it will also advance Ohio’s economy. We are eager to continue the state’s strong collaboration with GE and LEEDCo as we pursue this exciting, first-of-its kind initiative for Lake Erie.”

LEEDCo was set up in late 2009 based on recommendations of a task force appointed by commissioners in Cuyahoga County to look into the feasibility of an offshore wind farm in Lake Erie.

So far, $2 million has been invested in preparation work for the project, with a Request for Proposals issued at the end of March seeking a developer for the offshore wind farm (see this BrighterEnergy.org story).

The deal with GE will see the company providing offshore wind turbines and maintenance services for an initial 20-megawatt project.

The project is being targeted for completion in late 2012, and could be followed by subsequent projects with a long-term aim of installing 1,000MW of generating capacity in Ohio’s section of Lake Erie by 2020.

GE

The wind turbines being proposed for the initial 20MW project are the latest in GE’s fleet, designed specifically for offshore wind farms. GE gained access to the technology after acquiring Norwegian offshore wind turbine specialist ScanWind last year.

The technology has been in use in a Norwegian wind farm for the past five years.

As well as providing wind turbines for the Cleveland wind farm, GE has agreed to work with LEEDCo to draw up a cost-cutting strategy for the offshore wind project, and to work more widely to raise awareness and support for offshore wind.

Offshore wind has the potential to create thousands of new jobs in Ohio” - Vic Abate, Ohio

There is also talk of GE giving “strong consideration” to establishing an offshore wind turbine factory in Northern Ohio if a sufficient market for offshore wind turbines can be developed in the Great Lakes.

Vic Abate, Vice President of GE’s Renewable Energy business, said: “Offshore wind has the potential to create thousands of new jobs in Ohio and become a major source of economic growth.

“Working with LEEDCo, we have made significant progress to make offshore wind in Lake Erie a reality.”

Dr Lorry Wagner, President of LEEDCo, added: “We are confident that as the GE product line develops and our methodologies mature, the combination will promote a self-sustaining and growing market for offshore wind in Lake Erie and the Great Lakes, providing economic opportunity and emissions-free energy for Northern Ohio.”