Alstom Haliade 150 offshore wind turbine – part of US DOE’s1 advanced technology demonstration programme

Friday, Dec 21, 2012

Alstom is a member of a team led by Dominion Virginia Power, which has been awarded a $4M USD grant by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to complete the engineering, site evaluation and planning phase for an offshore wind demonstration project in the state of Virginia. This award strengthens Alstom’s position as a leading player on the worldwide wind market.

“In supplying 240 offshore wind turbines in France, Alstom is creating up to 5,000 jobs and establishing an entirely new manufacturing base. This example illustrates how offshore wind in the U.S. could catalyse new industries, stimulate the economy and create new jobs.”

DOE’s advanced technology demonstration programme is intended to achieve large cost reductions over existing offshore wind technologies and develop viable and reliable options for the United States. Through this effort, America’s first offshore wind projects could enter commercial operation by 2017.

The Dominion team’s proposal includes the installation of two Alstom Haliade 150 offshore wind turbines approximately 22 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. These units would be fully-integrated with the state’s onshore power grid and feature innovative foundations.

The Haliade 150 offshore wind turbine is built on Alstom Pure Torque technology, which significantly reduces stress on its power generating components. This unique design combined with a permanent magnet direct drive generator and a 150-meter rotor reduces the cost of offshore wind power by increasing reliability and availability, improving drivetrain efficiency, boosting energy yield, and reducing operations and maintenance (O&M) costs.

Source: Business Wire