'Largest-ever combined project': bonanza for GE with 1.5GW US wind belt order

Trio of Traverse, Maverick and Sundance projects in Oklahoma to be built around OEM's workhorse 2MW machines for developer Invenergy

Installation of a GE 2MW wind turbine
Installation of a GE 2MW wind turbineFoto: GE Renewable Energy

US wind market-leader GE Renewable Energy has been tapped to deliver almost 1.5GW’s-worth of its workhorse 2MW turbines for the gigantic North Central Wind development in Oklahoma, making it the “largest combined onshore project” in the OEM’s history.

Through this deal, GE will supply 492 of its 2.X-127s and 39 of its 2.X-116 turbines, with varying nameplates and hub heights, for the giant power complex, which will be made up of the 999MW Traverse, 287MW Maverick and 199MW Sundance wind farms being developed by Invenergy for hand-over to American Electric Power (AEP) once commissioned.

GE Onshore Americas CEO Tim White said: “This exciting endeavour… is the largest combined onshore wind project in GE’s history. We have a long partnership with Invenergy and AEP and look forward to working closely with them to help bring a significant amount of affordable, sustainable energy to the region.

“As the US and the world have adopted increasing amounts of renewable energy, Invenergy and GE are helping to accelerate this change by being the partners of choice for utilities and other leading companies that want to be part of the ongoing and critical transition to affordable, sustainable renewable energy.”

Invenergy’s chief commercial officer Jim Shield said: “It is critical that Invenergy work with trusted partners as we develop and build the North Central Wind, including Traverse, the largest wind farm in the country, and especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Invenergy is proud to deepen our long-standing partnership with GE to deliver the benefits these projects will bring to AEP and the nation.”

The North Central Wind order comes in the wake of GE landing the deal for what is currently the largest stand-alone wind project in Europe, Luxcara’s 753MW Önusberget in Sweden, which is part of the up-to-2.8GW Markbygden complex.
GE pipped Chinese rival Goldwind to the post to claim top spot in BloombergNEF’s latest global OEM league table for 2020, with some 13.53GW of its turbines set turning in the last year, as a record 100GW of onshore turbines were added to the global fleet.
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Published 31 March 2021, 11:55Updated 31 March 2021, 11:55
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