GE’s repower program can increase fleet output by 25% and add an additional 20 years to turbine life.
GE Renewable Energy has announced at the AWEA Windpower Conference that it has repowered 300 wind turbines, the equivalent of adding 75 wind turbines worth of output.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has estimated that the U.S. repowering market could grow to $25 billion by 2030. With the largest installed base in the US, GE is uniquely positioned to serve this growing market segment.
“The repower program can include increasing a turbine’s rotor size, and upgrades to the gearbox, hub, main shaft, and main bearing assembly,” said Anne McEntee, GE Renewable Energy Vice President and Services CEO. “This is an exciting opportunity to bring new life to older turbines and help them provide even more energy for years to come.”
GE Renewable Energy’s repower program extends the life of onshore wind turbines by a decade or more, making turbines more efficient and reliable while also increasing a wind farm’s performance by up to 25%. As the U.S. wind industry matures, legacy units are old enough to benefit from this lifecycle extension program, which brings new value to wind farm customers through upgrades and technology advancements.
“Repowering is so much more than simply providing new wind-turbine equipment—we’re bringing the entirety of GE to the table for our customers, providing options for servicing, grid solutions, forecasting, and tailored financing solutions,” said McEntee.
With a global installed base of ~57-GW, GE is also positioned to address the repowering need worldwide. Repowering existing wind turbine technology is a complex endeavor, requiring the ability to blend new technology and equipment with aging machines. GE has the engineering and design expertise to meet such challenges.
“We are pleased to be partnering with GE on our repowering program,” said Armando Pimentel, president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources. “The GE repower package provides the opportunity to modernize our wind farms, improving the efficiency and increasing the farm output. Repowering ensures our wind turbines not just remain productive, but perform better than ever.”
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