GE launches onshore wind turbine with two-piece carbon fiber blades

GE Renewable Energy (Paris, France) launched its new Cypress onshore turbine platform, and the next model from that platform, GE's 5.3-158 turbine. The platform advances the proven technology of GE's 2 MW and 3 MW fleets, which serves an installed base of nearly 20 GW, while also utilizing architecture and innovations from the 4.8-158 turbine introduced in 2017.

The Cypress platform, which also includes the 4.8-158, will be powered by a revolutionary two-piece carbon blade design, enabling blades to be manufactured at even longer lengths and improving logistics to offer more siting options. Longer blades improve annual energy production (AEP) and help drive down Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), and the proprietary design of the new blades will allow these larger turbines to be installed in locations that were previously inaccessible. According to GE Renewable Energy, the new design enables blade assembly onsite, reducing the costs for permitting equipment and road work required for transporting longer blades. Cypress is designed to scale over time, enabling GE to offer a wider array of power ratings and hub heights to meet customer needs throughout the 5 MW range.