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Projects

Projects: Details for ETI-WI1007
Details for ETI-WI1007
Reference Number ETI-WI1007
Title Accelerating Very Long Blade Development
Status Completed
Energy Categories Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy) 100%;
Research Types Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 25%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 75%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Project Contact
No email address given
Blade Dynamics
Award Type Institute Project
Funding Source ETI
Start Date 04 December 2012
End Date 14 January 2016
Duration 37 months
Total Grant Value £15,500,000
Industrial Sectors Technical Consultancy
Region South East
Programme
Investigators Principal Investigator Project Contact , Blade Dynamics (100.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract
  • Project to develop a technology platform to build blades in excess of 100 metres
  • Use of carbon fibre in manufacture enabled longer blades with increased swept area to be built
  • Manufactured through smaller component pieces rather than full-length mouldings

The ETI commissioned Isle of Wight SME Blade Dynamics to develop a technology platform to build blades in excess of 100m for use on the next generation of large offshore wind turbines with a capacity of 6MW.

New design techniques were used incorporating carbon fibre along with other composite materials.This created blades weighing up to 40% less and allowed for cost savings in the overall blade, turbine and tower structure to be made, when the system is designed as a matched unit. This helps reduce the cost of energy.

The manufacturing process sees the blades constructed through the assembly of smaller, more accurate and easily manufactured component pieces as opposed to the traditional large and expensive full-length mouldings.

In October 2015, Blade Dynamics was acquired by GE.The acquisition by one of the world largest companies and the resources and market reach they bring with them should enable the technology to progress quickly and reach a wide global market.

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Projects

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Publications

An ETI Perspective - Larger Blade Technology, an innovation case study

Development of Long High Performance Blades for Large Offshore Wind Turbines - Request for Proposal

ETI Innovation Learnings - Longer Blade Technology

ETI Insights Report - Offshore Wind: Floating Wind Technology

Added to Database 16/08/18