The first GE Renewable Energy Haliade-X blade to make landfall in the US arrived in Boston Harbour this month, ahead of testing at Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Wind Technology Testing Center (WTTC).

The record-setting 107-metre-long design – three of which are being flown by the OEM’s 12MW prototype in the Port of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, and a fourth now entering accelerated life-time trials in the UK at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult – will be put through its paces at WTTC in conditions modelled to simulate more than 25 years in service at sea.

“We think the Haliade-X is the right turbine at the right time as the offshore industry globally and particularly here in the US is poised to take off,” said GE group chairman and CEO Lawrence Culp, as the unit arrived.

John Lavelle, the head of GE Renewable Energy’s offshore wind business unit, added: “Because it is the most powerful machine in the industry, it allows our customers to drive down the cost of wind energy and speed the adoption of clean, renewable energy.”

Danish developer Orsted recently placed the first commercial order in the US for Haliade-Xs, signing a preferred supplier deal with the OEM to build two in-development US Atlantic projects around the giant machine, Skipjack and Ocean Wind.