GE grabs two-thirds of booming US wind turbine market in first half of 2020

GE Renewable Energy installed 63% of US new turbine capacity in a strong first-half market, dominating the largest 2.3-2.8MW segment as average nameplate capacity ratings continue to increase, according to the latest industry report by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

GE led its home market with 2.76GW of installations across 16 projects in 11 states – all onshore – as new capacity among all OEMs totaled 4.37GW nationwide.

Vestas ranked second through June with 837MW installed, 19% of the market, then Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, 619MW (14%) and Nordex with 151MW (3%).

All but one of the completed projects employing GE turbines had nameplate ratings between 2.3MW and 2.8MW with either 116- or 127-metre rotor diameters. The other used a 3.8MW turbine with a 137-metre rotor diameter, giving the vendor a presence in the fast-growing 3MW and above segment that its two largest rivals control.

Turbines are larger, taller and more productive than ever before, driven by advancements in technology, improved siting techniques and more public acceptance as the country transitions to cleaner energy sources.

Vestas in the first half installed models with rated capacities of 2MW or those in a range of 3.45MW to 4.2MW, a segment where it is the leader.

Siemens Gamesa supplied one project with 2.415MW turbines and others with rated capacities between 3.46MW and 3.55MW. Nordex delivered 3.15MW turbines.

The 3MW and above platform market largely centres on Texas, midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin, and the Plains states of Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota. Projects in California and New Mexico are also using them.

Looking ahead, GE led all vendors with 11.9GW of orders for projects under construction or in advanced development. Vestas was second, 8.8GW, then Siemens Gamesa, 6.13GW, and Nordex, 1.8GW.