Vestas and GE Renewable Energy Settle Multi-Patent Dispute

Vestas and GE Renewable Energy have reached an amicable settlement of all disputes related to multiple patent infringement claims in the U.S.

Vestas Wind Systems A/S and General Electric Company (GE), acting through its Renewable Energy Business, GE Renewable Energy have reached an amicable settlement of all disputes related to multiple patent infringement claims in the U.S.

The settlement will result in the discontinuation of the case pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California as well as all other pending proceedings related to the patents-in-suit.  

The patents-in-suit generally relate to technologies that enable wind turbines to manage grid faults. With this settlement, any past infringements of the patents-in-suit are fully released. In addition, the settlement includes a cross-license to the patents-in-suit and their family members, as well as a confidential payment from Vestas to GE. The cross-license applies globally to the parties’ and their affiliates’ respective onshore and offshore wind businesses and ensures that they can use the technology covered by such patents.

The announcement resolves the initial lawsuit GE filed against Vestas and Vestas-American Wind Technology Inc. on 31 July 2017, claiming infringement of its U.S. Patents No. 7,629,705 and No. 6,921,985; Vestas’ two counterclaims against GE claiming infringement of its U.S. Patents No. 7,102,247 and No. 7,859,125 on December 15, 2017; and all pending inter-partes review proceedings with respect to the patents-in-suit.

Recently, Casa dos Ventos, one of the pioneers and largest investors in the development of wind projects in Brazil, has placed a 445 MW order for the supply and installation of 106 Vestas V150-4.2 MW wind turbines for the Rio do Vento project in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

The project will be Vestas’ largest in Brazil and the second order Casa dos Ventos places with Vestas in less than six months and the largest wind turbine order by the Brazilian developer to date.