GE has pulled the curtain back on its design for a 12MW floating wind turbine based on a so-called tension-leg platform (TLP), being developed under a $4m US government technology R&D programme.

The concept, which would marry one of OEM GE Renewable Energy’s Haliade-Xs to a PelaStar TLP unit from consultancy Glosten – an early version of which was first launched back in 2011 – incorporates next-generation control systems that could make it possible for future offshore turbines to be 35% lighter than current floating-based designs.