The factory will be part of an offshore wind cluster in the port city of Jieyang, bringing together other industry suppliers and is expected to start assembly production in the second half of 2021.
GE will also set up a new operation and development centre in the south-eastern province of Guangong, where it will carry out research and development (R&D) activities.
It will provide training, data management and operation and maintenance (O&M) services at centre in the city of Guangzhou as well, it stated.
GE’s CEO for offshore wind John Lavelle explained the company expected China to expand its offshore wind capacity, with Guangdong alone targetting 66GW of new capacity by 2030 under its Offshore Development Master Plan.
The offshore wind factory will serve both domestic and regional markets. Construction at the site is due to start at the end of 2019.
Meanwhile, its Saint-Nazaire assembly site in France, where it is currently manufacturing the Haliade-X 12MW prototype, will continue to serve "all other international projects".
The manufacturer’s operations and development centre in Guangdong will also host its regional sales and project management office for offshore wind, GE stated.
GE installed three Haliade 6MW turbines at a demonstration project in China in January 2018. They remain the US manufacturer's only turbines in Chinese waters, according to Windpower Intelligence, the research and data division of Windpower Monthly.
