REM: GE to axe 20% of onshore wind workers in US

Wind turbine manufacturer GE Renewable Energy is laying off thousands of onshore wind workers in an effort to restructure and streamline the business.

Despite the energy transition, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of wind turbines are facing high commodity, transport and labour costs, supply chain bottlenecks and policy uncertainty. The biggest Western market, the US, now has policy certainty for 10 years but only since August, and intake orders will take a few quarters to catch up.

GE’s news follows an announcement in late September by its rival Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy of 2,900 job cuts, mostly in Europe. 

The other top-three turbine maker, pure-play manufacturer Vestas, has been struggling less financially than the GE and Siemens divisions for the last few quarters. But Vestas is also anticipated to announce staff layoffs in the near future, say analysts.

GE will lay off 20% of its onshore wind workforce in the US, according to notices sent to staff and reported by numerous news outlets. Employees in North and Latin America, the Middle East and Africa have received official notices about the job cuts. Staff in Europe and Asia Pacific are also set to be axed in the future.

"These are difficult decisions, which do not reflect on our employees' dedication and hard work but are needed to ensure the business can compete and improve profitability over time," said a GE Renewables statement.