GE Renewable Energy has officially inaugurated the LM Wind Power blade factory in Cherbourg, France.
The facility will provide the manufacture of the 107m long blades for the Haliade-X 12MW offshore wind turbine, as well as other blade models.
According to GE, production started in early 2019 and five blades have already been delivered for the prototyping and test phases of Haliade-X.
“We are pleased that Cherbourg can become the French showcase for real know-how in the manufacture of long blades. This plant will be truly international in scope with the recent export success of our new Haliade-X 12 MW wind turbine,” said Jérôme Pécresse , President & CEO of GE Renewable Energy.
The Cherbourg site will in the coming weeks begin the production of blades for the Haliade-X turbines set to be installed at Ørsted’s Ocean Wind and Skipjack wind farms in the U.S. and at the Dogger Bank project in the UK.
The completion of these projects is expected to enable the plant to double its workforce to nearly 550 employees from the current 260.
Additionally, as part of the development of the Haliade-X 12MW, more than EUR 120 million will be invested in the Cherbourg and Saint-Nazaire factories.