General Electric to work with UK government to test world’s largest wind turbine in Northumberland

American energy giant General Electric (GE) has signed a five-year contract with the UK government to test and develop new offshore wind technologies, including the world’s largest wind turbine.

GE’s renewable energy arm will be testing the giant 350-foot turbines at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult centre in Blyth, Northumberland to try out the technology and enhance its performance and reliability.

The American company said the partnership would help develop the UK supply chain in the renewable sector, and also increase access to demonstration opportunities for innovative British small businesses.

Read more: Here’s how much renewable energy costs are expected to fall by 2020

Welcoming the agreement, energy minister Claire Perry said: “This collaboration is great news and highlights our world-class research and testing facilities. Through our Industrial Strategy, we are making the UK a global leader in renewables, including offshore wind, with more support available than any other country in the world.”

According to John Lavelle, president and CEO of GE’s Offshore Wind business, the agreement would allow the company to test and adapt the new wind turbine technology more quickly because ORE Catapult’s facilities and expertise would “reduce unplanned maintenance, increase availability and power output, while introducing new features to meet customers’ demands.”

Read more: European wind power investment sailed to €51bn in 2017

The agreement also includes a £6m combined investment with Innovate UK and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to instal the world’s largest and most powerful grid emulation system at the Catapult’s National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth.