Both initiatives will feature GE’s largest wind turbine, the 4 MW 4.0-110 wind turbine with a 110 m rotor and direct drive.

GE has signed a cooperation agreement with Norwegian energy companies Statoil and Lyse to jointly carry out technical and environmental feasibility studies for building an offshore wind demonstration project in Rogaland County, off the southwest coast of Norway.

The agreement includes the installation of up to four 4 MW offshore, direct drive wind turbines. Installation is planned to start in 2012.

GE is also planning an onshore installation of its direct drive wind turbines in 2011. The offshore wind turbine will be erected in Gothenburg Harbour in Sweden in cooperation with Gothenburg Energy.

“We are pleased to be moving to the next phase in our offshore strategy,” says Victor Abate, Vice President of GE Power & Water’s Renewable Energy business.

“With Statoil, Lyse and Gothenburg Energy we have found three excellent partners with whom we can demonstrate our offshore technology. We remain optimistic about the potential of the offshore wind industry, and we believe that our partnering strategy will increase our potential for growth in this sector, particularly in Europe where we see tremendous opportunities.”

GE recently announced plans to invest approximately €340 million to develop or expand its offshore wind turbine manufacturing and service facilities in four European countries – the UK, Germany, Norway and Sweden.