Corners cut, data falsified at GE Vernova plant that manufactured failed turbine

Nov 18

Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

Debris from a shattered turbine blade at the Vineyard Wind farm may be done washing ashore, but fallout from the incident is still impacting the company behind the project. Allegations of rushed manufacturing and falsified quality data by turbine manufacturer GE Vernova have led to layoffs, suspensions, and ongoing investigations.

Fiberglass shards and other remnants of the damaged blade first started washing ashore near the Massachusetts-based wind farm in late July 2024 and continued for more than a month after the initial incident. In response, GE Vernova, the company that manufactured the turbine, launched an internal investigation to determine the cause of the failure.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

GE Vernova is now reporting that improper practices at its Quebec manufacturing facility, where the faulty blade was produced, may have contributed to the incident.

According to reports, managers at the plant allegedly pressured workers to speed up production, leading to errors. As a result, nine managers have been laid off and 11 unionized employees have been suspended due to the alleged negligence.

The investigation also uncovered allegations of falsified quality data at the Canadian facility. Senior executives are said to have instructed employees to associate quality metrics from well-constructed blades with substandard ones. GE Vernova has not confirmed or denied these claims.

Amid heightened scrutiny, the company announced plans to remove some already-installed turbine blades at the Vineyard Wind farm and strengthen others following an inspection of the project.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has also stated that its own probe into the Vineyard Wind remains ongoing, and there is currently no timeline for its completion.

Tags: Nantucket, Offshore wind farms, Vineyard Wind, Wind energy, Wind farms

DEBRIS FROM THIS SHATTERED TURBINE BLADE MAY BE DONE FALLING INTO THE OCEAN-

BUT FALLOUT FOR THOSE WHO WORKED ON BUILDING THE STRUCTURE CONTINUES.

FIBERGLASS SHARDS AND OTHER REMNANTS FROM THE VINEYARD WIND FARM FIRST STARTED WASHING UP ON NEARBY SHORES IN LATE JULY-

AND CONTINUED DOING SO FOR MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER THE INITIAL BREAKAGE.

THE INCIDENT PROMPTED THE TURBINE’S MANUFACTURERS- GE VERNOVA- TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

NOW, THEY’RE REPORTING THAT CORNERS WERE CUT AT THE COMPANY’S QUEBEC PLANT WHERE THE BLADE THAT FAILED WAS MADE.

MANAGERS REPORTEDLY PUSHED WORKERS TO COMPLETE THE BLADES FASTER WHICH RESULTED IN ERRORS.

GE VERNOVA HAS DECIDED TO LAY OFF NINE MANAGERS AND SUSPENDED 11 UNION MEMBERS OVER THE ALLEGED NEGLIGENCE.

THERE ARE ALSO CLAIMS THEIR PROBE FOUND EVIDENCE OF FALSIFIED QUALITY DATA HAPPENING AT THE CANADIAN FACTORY.

SENIOR COMPANY EXECUTIVES ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE SCHEME-

TELLING LOWER LEVEL EMPLOYEES TO ATTRIBUTE DATA ASSOCIATED WITH WELL MADE BLADES TO POORLY MADE ONES AS WELL.

GE VERNOVA HAS NEITHER CONFIRMED NOR DENIED THESE REPORTS.

THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED LATE LAST MONTH IT INTENDS TO REMOVE SOME ALREADY INSTALLED BLADES FROM THE VINEYARD WIND FARM AFTER A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE PROJECT.

OTHER BLADES AT THE SITE WILL ALSO BE STRENGTHENED AS A RESULT OF THE INSPECTION.

MEANWHILE, THE BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT SAYS ITS INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE VINEYARD WIND INCIDENT REMAINS ONGOING.

THE AGENCY STATING THERE’S CURRENTLY NO TIMETABLE FOR WHEN THAT WILL BE COMPLETED.

TO CHECK OUT OUR PREVIOUS REPORTING ON THE VINEYARD WIND TURBINE FAILURE, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT AROW NEWS APP AND SEARCH OFFSHORE WIND.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER.