| Industry | Wind power |
|---|---|
| Founded | Schenectady, New York (1878) |
| Founder(s) | Thomas Edison Elihu Thomson Edwin J. Houston |
| Headquarters | Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Wind turbines |
| Owner(s) | General Electric |
| Website | gewindenergy.com |
GE Wind Energy is a branch of GE Energy, a subsidiary of General Electric. The company manufactures and sells wind turbines to the international market. In 2009, GE was the second largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world.[1]
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The entity was created as developer (not manufacturer) Zond in 1980 by James G.P. Dehlsen, who also formed Clipper Windpower in 2001.[2] Enron acquired Zond in January 1997.[3]
In 2002 GE acquired the wind power assets of Enron during its bankruptcy proceedings[4] while gas turbine sales slumped. Enron Wind was the only surviving US manufacturer of large wind turbines at the time, and GE increased engineering and supplies for the Wind Division and doubled the annual sales to $1.2B in 2003.[5] It acquired ScanWind in 2009.[6]
In February 2011, GE also acquired Wind Tower Systems, LLC, a manufacturer of space frame wind turbine towers.[7]
The company currently produces three types of wind turbines, ranging from 1.5 MW to 4 MW.
| Feature | GE 1.5 XLE[8] | GE 2.5 XL[9] | GE 4.0-110[10] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rated capacity (MW) | 1.5 | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| Cut-in wind speed | 3.5 m/s (11.5 ft/s) | 3.5 m/s (11.5 ft/s) | 3.0 m/s (9.8 ft/s) |
| Cut-out wind speed | 20 m/s (65.6 ft/s) | 25 m/s (82.0 ft/s) | 25 m/s (82.0 ft/s) |
| Rated wind speed | 11.5 m/s (37.7 ft/s) | 12.5 m/s (41.0 ft/s) | 14 m/s (45.9 ft/s) |
| Operational temperature | -30–40 °C (-22–104 °F) | ||
| IEC 61400 wind class | IIIb | IIIa, IIb | Ib |
| Frequency (Hz) | 50—60 | ||
| Voltage | 690 | ||
| Rotor diameter | 82.5 m (271 ft) | 100 m (328 ft) | 110 m (361 ft) |
| Rotor swept-area | 5,346 m2 (57,544 sq ft) | 7,854 m2 (84,540 sq ft) | 9,567 m2 (102,978 sq ft) |
| Hub heights | 80 m (262 ft) | 75–100 m (246–328 ft) | Site dependant |
The GE 1.5 megawatt series of wind turbines was developed with the cooperation of the United States Department of Energy.[11][12] It consists of three fibreglass blades attached to a horizontal axis hub. The hub is connected to the main shaft which turns a multi-stage system of gears. The gears increase the rotational rate and send the kinetic energy obtained from the wind to a doubly fed electric machine, where it is converted into electrical energy. The angle of the blades and the direction which the turbine faces are controlled by an active, all electric pitch and yaw system. The generator has a maximum output of 1.5 megawatts (1,500 kW). The generator and gearbox are contained in the nacelle which is further insulated to minimize noise emissions.[11]
Three models in the series (the 1.5se, 1.5sle, and 1.5xle) had been developed by 2005. Their rotors ranged in diameter from 70.5 meters to 82.5 meters (231–271 ft), accommodating variable expected wind speeds.[13] Several optional features support its presence in electrical grids, including voltage regulation and the delivery of reactive power during grid disturbances or periods of low wind.
To further wind power research, a unit was commissioned at the National Wind Technology Center in late 2009.[14] Its 10,000 installations in the US at the time constituted 50% of the national commercial wind energy fleet, influencing the NREL's decision to install a model at the Center.[15] 12,000 turbines had been installed in 19 countries as of mid-2009.[12][14][16] [17]
The GE 2.5MW wind turbine (also called GE2.5XL) is the second and larger model of land based wind turbines sold by General Electric. It is currently in operation on three continents; Europe, Asia, and North America. The 845MW Shepherds Flat Wind Farm in Oregon is the first windpark in the United States to utilize this model as its primary wind turbine.[18]
The newest turbine by GE, the 4.0 MW wind turbine (also called GE4.0-110) is the only offshore wind turbine model currently manufactured by General Electric. The offshore GE 3.6 SL was discontinued, but its installations remain in operation at the Arklow Bank Wind Park.[19]
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