Raising the bar on wind turbine blade durability: Inside GE Vernova's approach

A collaboration with DNV that strengthens GE Vernova’s industry-leading position by further reducing wind turbine blade defects by 65%

Our latest Energy Transition Outlook forecasts that electricity demand could surge in the years ahead. Wind power will play a critical role in the energy mix.

The onshore wind industry has undergone a significant transformation over the past two decades, driven by the need for greater energy output, improved project economics, and broader deployment across a wider range of wind regimes.

1 TW

(2024)

3.3 TW

(2040)

9.9 TW

(2060)

Poor blade quality - comprised of adhesive failures, laminate cracking, and insufficient repairs - remains a leading cause of unplanned downtime and materially impacts energy yield, availability, insurance exposure, and developer returns across the lifecycle of a wind asset.

Wind turbine blades account for approximately 30–40% of total repair expenditure ( wind-watch.org)
$12–$18 billion USD in annual global spend on wind turbine blade-related services and repairs today (estimates from Wood Mackenzie, BloombergNEF, and IntelStor)
Total wind turbine blade-related services and replacement parts spend could grow by mid-century to approximately $50–$80 billion USD annually (estimates from Wood Mackenzie, and BloombergNEF)

The forecasted growth for wind power necessitates consistent wind turbine blade quality standards and coordination across manufacturers, developers, financiers, and certifying parties. GE Vernova recognized the need to establish confidence in their manufactured wind turbine blades.

They offered to let DNV inside their wind turbine blade factories around the world for a global wind turbine blade inspection program.

Raising the bar on wind turbine blade durability

Find out how DNV’s wind turbine blade inspection program enabled GE Vernova to further reduce defects by 65%, and our criteria for an industry-leading blade inspection program.

Read the full story

What GE Vernova has to say:

“At GE Vernova, blade quality and durability are fundamental to our ability to scale wind with confidence. We recognized the need for an independent, technically rigorous partner who could help us strengthen wind turbine blade quality consistency. DNV brought exactly that rigor.

What differentiated DNV was not just the inspections, but the way they worked side-by-side with our quality and engineering teams inside the factories. Together, we standardized acceptance criteria, strengthened feedback loops, and embedded a culture of continuous improvement.

By opening our blade manufacturing facilities to DNV’s global inspection program, we gained an objective, data-driven view of finished blade quality across our fleet. Their technical integrity, hands-on collaboration, and commitment to long-term durability enabled us to achieve a further 65% reduction in defects identified during inspections, and significantly improved consistency and confidence in blade quality across our manufacturing network.”

Ted Lauritzen Executive Director, Quality GE Vernova

Explore more

Energy Transition Outlook North America 2025

Our latest Energy Transition Outlook for North America examines the factors driving energy demand growth in the US and Canada through 2060, as well as the reasons behind the slowing efforts to decarbonize

Wind energy

With DNV, your wind farm project is in the safest hands possible. Recognized as the world’s leading technical authority in wind power generation for three decades, all the expertise and know-how of our global team of experts is at your disposal.