GE and Göteborg Energi have started installing the first 4.1-113 Offshore Turbine in the Gothenburg harbour, the two companies announced at the European Wind Energy Association’s EWEA Offshore 2011 in Amsterdam. The new turbine will produce enough electricity to supply 3000 Swedish homes per year and reduces 15,000 tons of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to the emissions of 7,500 cars per year.
This project marks the first commercial application of GE’s 4.1-113 technology, which was introduced in March of this year at EWEA’s 2011 conference in Brussels. The four megawatt-class wind turbine is designed to bring a new level of reliability to the offshore wind industry.
“We are delighted that after two years of planning and coordinating, everything is coming together. The wind turbine could not be placed any better: while it is located onshore, which makes it easily accessible, it is right at the water front and exposed to offshore weather conditions. For the people of Gothenburg, this project is a milestone in achieving our goal to produce more green energy for the city and the country,” said Jonas Cognell, director of Renewable Electricity at Göteborg Energi.
The turbine is located in Risholmsvägen, an area located at the harbour entrance and the door to Sweden, well-situated from a logistical point of view. The nacelle, tower and blades will arrive by boat. The installation is planned to be finished by mid-December. The foundation, with a 21 meter diameter, is pile-driven into the rock. Completion of the installation and connection to the grid is planned for the end of this year.
“We are very proud to help Sweden in promoting green energy with the installation of our first 4.1-113 wind turbine in the harbour of Gothenburg,” said Vincent Schellings, Offshore Product Leader for GE Energy . “The successful project is due to great teamwork with Göteborg Energi and Chalmers University as key partner. The 4.1-113 offshore turbine features one of the industry’s most mature offshore direct-drive designs, and builds on our onshore experience with over 17,000 units operating globally.”
About GE‘s 4.1-113
GE’s 4.1-113 is intended specifically for the offshore environment, with reliability and availability as the primary design drivers.
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 and lowers operating expenses. The 4.1-113 blade design is optimized to maximize energy capture at sites suitable for monopile applications. Based on five years of operating history of the installed fleet of GE 3.5 MW turbines, the platform is well proven.
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Offshore WIND staff, December 01, 2011; Image: