Onshore wind farm in Fukushima, Japan

GE Vernova’s Onshore Wind business (NYSE: GE) announced that it has been selected by Abukuma South Wind Power LLC as the supplier for the Abukuma South Wind Farm in the area of Iwaki-city and Hirono-town, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Abukuma South Wind Power signed a turbine supply agreement with Kandenko, EPC for this project, to provide 28 units of GE Vernova’s 3.2-103 turbine1 that will provide approximately 90 megawatts (MW) of power, and also signed a long-term full service contract with GE Vernova.

The project is GE Vernova’s second project with Cosmo Eco Power in Japan. Cosmo Eco Power Co., Ltd., Nemoto Tsusho, Maruto, and Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., are supporting the project as shareholders of Abukuma South Wind Power LLC. The agreement will enable both companies to support Fukushima Prefecture’s Renewable Energy promotion vision 2021 of having 100% of Fukushima's demand for energy being met with renewable energy by 2040, as well as Japan’s goal of increasing the share of the national electricity mix coming from renewable energy from 36 to 38% by 2030.

GE Vernova’s 3.2-103 onshore wind turbines are optimized to minimize environmental impact and cope with extreme weather conditions as well as Japan’s unique wind environment.

Steve Swift, Chief Commercial Officer, GE Vernova’s Onshore Wind business said,

“We appreciate the confidence that Cosmo Eco Power has shown in our 3 MW class turbine line and value the continued opportunity to advance the government’s renewable energy goals with wind power. Projects like this illustrate how GE Vernova, together with our customers, is working to electrify the world while we simultaneously decarbonize it.”

Sayuri Hashikawa, Director & Executive Officer, Cosmo Eco Power’s Business Development said,

“This project was planned to support the introduction of renewable energy, as one of the priority areas of the national project to rebuild the country following the Great East Japan Earthquake and the tsunami that occurred in 2011 with a goal to build a new industrial base. In implementing this project, we aim to coexist and prosper with the local community and key stakeholders, including GE Vernova by cooperating with local businesses in construction, operation and maintenance."

Over the last 130 years, GE Vernova has contributed towards Japan’s stable power supply by providing power generation equipment including gas turbines, steam turbines, nuclear reactors, hydro and wind turbines. GE Vernova currently powers one fourth of the country’s current installed capacity of onshore wind, and Haliade-X, the world’s biggest offshore wind turbines set to begin operations in the future.

 

Onshore electrical connection for Poland's largest offshore wind farm, Baltica

GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions business (NYSE: GE) announced that, in partnership with Polimex Mostostal (PXM), it has received a contract to build the onshore infrastructure necessary to transfer power into the onshore grid from the Baltica 2 project – one of the two stages of the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm in Poland. The onshore connection infrastructure will involve constructing a 275/400 kV high voltage substation, along with onshore export lines, vital for feeding the generated power into the Polish Power System.

GE Vernova, through its Polish company GE Power Sp. z.o.o. acting as consortium leader, will provide the technology, including Gas Insulated Switchgear, Transformers and Static Synchronous Compensators (STATCOMs), which are crucial for maintaining a stable electrical grid, especially when integrating renewable energy sources like offshore wind farms. PXM will be responsible for all civil work, equipment installation, and laying the onshore export lines needed for the onshore electrical substation.

“This significant project reinforces GE Vernova's commitment to the advancement of renewable energy and Poland's strategic shift to sustainable energy sources. GE Vernova has been supporting PGE’s modernisation efforts with various leading technologies, and with this agreement we are proud to bring our collaboration to a new level. Together with our consortium partner Polimex Mostostal, we are ready to bring our expertise and cutting-edge technology to Baltica 2 to ensure the efficient integration of its energy into the Polish Power System,”

said Johan Bindele, head of Grid Systems Integration at GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions business.

“The Baltica Offshore Wind Farm is another very important project in the portfolio of the Polimex Mostostal Capital Group. We would like to thank PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna and Ørsted for entrusting us with this contract. Our experienced project team, in cooperation with our technology partner GE Vernova, looks forward to successfully working on this key project,"

said Krzysztof Figat, President of the Management Board of Polimex Mostostal.

The 2.5 GW Baltica Offshore Wind Farm to be developed jointly by Ørsted and PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna, is set to be the largest in the Polish Baltic Sea and one of the largest globally. With its significant total capacity combining power from Baltica 2 and Baltica 3, this wind farm is poised to supply clean energy to nearly four million households in Poland upon completion, contributing notably to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

“The Baltica 2 will deliver 1.5 GW of power to the Pomerania region, which currently receives most of its electricity from the south of Poland. This additional source of power generation will increase the energy security not only of the region, but the entire country”,

said Wojciech Dąbrowski, president of the Management Board of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna.

“Last year we managed to sign all the contracts for the supply of the offshore components for Baltica 2, as well as some installation contracts. With the signing of the contract for building the onshore infrastructure necessary for exporting power from Baltica 2, we are moving a big step closer to the realization of this pioneering project for offshore wind energy in Poland,”

said Agata Staniewska-Bolesta, Managing Director of Ørsted Offshore Poland.

Covering approximately 190 km² in the Polish Baltic Sea, Baltica 2 is anticipated to be fully operational by 2027, playing a key role in Poland's green energy transition and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

High voltage onshore substations play a vital role in the infrastructure of offshore renewable energy projects like Baltica. They serve as crucial nodes where the electricity generated from wind is transformed to a higher voltage, suitable for long-distance transmission over the power grid. This process is essential for minimizing energy loss during transit and ensuring the stable and reliable transmission of power.

GE Vernova's Grid Solutions business is renowned for its expertise in high voltage substations, a crucial component in the infrastructure of large-scale renewable energy projects. Leveraging advanced technologies and innovative designs, GE Vernova offers solutions that optimize the efficiency and reliability of these substations, ensuring they effectively handle the transformation and transmission of high voltage electricity.

 

Onshore wind projects with Squadron Energy in Australia

GE Vernova’s Onshore Wind business (NYSE: GE) today confirmed the signing of a strategic framework agreement with Squadron Energy for 1.4 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind projects in New South Wales, Australia. The agreement was initially announced by Squadron Energy earlier this month to mark the start of construction of the Uungala Wind Farm.

The agreement, which was received in the fourth quarter of 2023, was publicly confirmed following a sod turning ceremony earlier this month. As part of the agreement, Squadron Energy entered into a $2.75 billion green strategic alliance for wind turbine supply with GE Vernova. Through the alliance, GE Vernova will supply Squadron Energy’s 414 MW Uungula Wind Farm with GE Vernova’s 6 MW wind turbines and engineering, procurement and construction expertise through its consortium partners CCP, and will also supply turbines for Squadron Energy’s next two NSW projects – Spicers Creek and Jeremiah wind farms.

GE Vernova and Squadron Energy, a wholly owned portfolio company of Tattarang, will build on their existing strong relationship to complete the grid applications and plan for the efficient delivery of the projects during a busy period of expansion for the global wind industry. All three projects will utilize GE Vernova’s 6.0-164 workhorse turbine which will enable the standardization of grid and project execution elements across the portfolio. Both Jeremiah Wind Farm and Spicers Creek Wind Farm will be constructed under a split-scope delivery model, which will unlock additional project value.

The Uungula Wind Farm will include 69 of GE Vernova’s 6.0-164 wind turbines and a five-year, full-service agreement with GE. Construction will commence in the first quarter of 2024.

Vic Abate, CEO of GE Vernova’s Wind business, said:

"This deal is the culmination of a strong partnership between the GE and Squadron teams built over several years across multiple projects. We are delighted to continue working together across a portfolio of projects in New South Wales, to bring reliable and affordable wind energy to the region. Across global markets, securing supply chains to mitigate risk and ensure a swift roll-out of renewable energy projects has been identified as one of the greatest challenges facing the sector and the shift to more renewable energy. This alliance with Squadron Energy is another example of GE Vernova’s ability to deliver on our workhorse strategy – producing fewer variants in large quantities at scale to drive quality and reliability across the fleet for our customers.”

Dr Andrew Forrest, Chairman of Tattarang, said:

“This partnership with GE Vernova will accelerate Australia’s transition to green energy. Squadron Energy is committed to delivering a 14 GW renewable energy development pipeline - one third of the Australian Government’s 82 per cent 2030 renewable energy target. The strong policies in place in the U.S, and Australia to incentivize industry investment in large-scale green energy will help to bring emissions down, not just nationally but across the globe. The transition to green energy is well and truly underway. It’s urgent for our planet but with the correct policies and partnerships it’s also great for our economy and local workforce.”

Chris Bowen, the Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy, said:

“The Australian Government welcomes the partnership between GE and Squadron Energy with its ambitious 14GW renewable and storage development pipeline. These projects are further proof renewable energy investors are getting on with the job, capitalizing on Australia's huge renewable potential, and helping transform our energy grid for the 21st Century. Firmed renewable energy and storage is not only the cheapest form of energy but provides crucial reliability as increasingly old and unreliable coal fired power stations inevitably exit the system.”

The three wind farms are projected to create approximately 1,000 jobs in construction and maintenance roles.

GE Vernova’s 6 MW workhorse turbine has over 1,200 units in operation with over 15 million operating hours, making it the most-deployed high nameplate (5 MW+) wind turbine in the world. A proven, experienced large turbine, the 6 MW is designed for a variety of challenging global environments and grids, including Australia. In Australia, GE Vernova has 3 GW of wind turbines in operation or in construction.

Source: GE Vernova

 

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