GE Renewable Energy in 2018 ended Vestas’ two-year reign as top turbine OEM in the vibrant US wind market, while Nordex made history claiming the third spot ahead of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, according to the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) latest figures.

GE installed 3.01GW of capacity, 40% of 7.6GW nationwide (all onshore), up from a 29.4% share in 2017. Danish group Vestas installed 2.88GW, or 38% of the market, up from 35.4% in 2017.

Nordex moved into third place here for the first time by installing 866MW, a record 15% share for the German vendor, up from 11.5% in 2017. Until recently a minor player in the US, Nordex’s 2018 performance was the best-ever here by a turbine OEM other than GE, Vestas, Siemens or Gamesa.

Nordex’s achievement came partly at the expense of SGRE, which installed 630MW, or 8% of the market, versus 23.2% in 2017, AWEA’s US Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2018 Market Report shows.

SGRE’s capacity installed was its lowest since 2013 and the second worst since 2006 in the US, when Siemens and Gamesa totals are combined.

SGRE continues to struggle in the 2-2.5MW platform, the largest market segment where Vestas predominates, and in 2.5-3MW, the next largest where GE is the clear leader. It also has minimal presence in the fast-growing 3-3.5MW platform where Vestas and Nordex are the main OEMs, and the 3.5-4MW that Vestas monopolises.

Vestas’ V110-2.0 model was the most popular turbine for the third year in a row, accounting for 25% of total capacity installations. GE’s 2.5-116 model was the second most popular with 17% of capacity additions.

Goldwind installed 171MW last year and other OEMs 24MW.

GE and Vestas' dominance of the US wind market, the second largest globally after China, is expected to continue over the next several years.

For projects under construction or in advanced development where developers have reported an OEM, GE currently represents 45% of the market, followed by Vestas with 43%. SGRE is in third with 10%.

GE has relied strongly on its home market for turbine sales and continues to diversify globally, where Vestas is the leader in most markets except China.

AWEA did not include MHI Vestas in its 2018 figures as Vineyard Wind had not placed a firm turbine order after naming it as the preferred supplier for its 800MW project off the coast of Massachusetts.

Wind

GE ends Vestas’ reign as top turbine-maker in US