GE Renewables Faces Wind Turbine Cost Hit In Court Patent Decision

Abstract

GE Renewables must pay Euopean wind turbine maker Siemens Gamesa $30,000 per megawatt in royalties for patent infringement on a technology used in next generation 12-MW to 14-MW Haliade-X offshore wind turbines. The judgment, in a suit brought by the Spanish-German manufacturer, could add $24 million to the cost of turbines. The decision will not be renegotiated. Vineyard Wind 1 began construction last November. The project is set to include 62 GE Haliad-X 13-MW wind turbines. A public comment period begins June 24 and ends August 8. The company has not returned a request for comment. Construction is expected to start in September 2023. It plans to begin construction in 2023 and complete it in 2025. The draft review found mostly minor to moderate effects on most environmental resources, such as fish, marine mammals and wetlands, but major effects to navigation and vessel traffic.