With a rotor as big as the London Eye, GE’s new wind turbine is massive, but it’s also smart and efficient.
The new 2.5-megawatt turbine (with a 120-meter rotor) is described by GE as “the world’s most efficient high-output and the first brilliant wind turbine.” Compared to its current model, the new model has a 25 percent increase in efficiency and a 15 percent increase in power output. And since it’s so efficient, GE is marketing the turbine to places that aren’t very breezy, specifically targeting forested areas in Canada and Europe.
And what makes the turbine smart? Here’s a fun cartoon from GE breaking it down:
Vic Abate, vice president of GE’s renewable energy business, explains in more technical terms:
“Our 2.5-120 is the first wind turbine that utilizes the Industrial Internet to help manage the intermittency of wind, providing smooth, predictable power to the world regardless of what Mother Nature throws its way,” Abate said in a news release. ”Analyzing tens of thousands of data points every second, the 2.5-120 integrates energy storage and advanced forecasting algorithms while communicating seamlessly with neighboring turbines, service technicians and customers.”
The first prototype of the new wind turbine is planned to be installed in the Netherlands next month.
Photo: GE
