LM Glasfiber enters into a new three-year research project supported by the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation to develop laser-based wind sensory systems as an integrated part of future wind turbines.

The project, which is a joint venture with Risø DTU and NKT Photonics, aims to significantly improve the load control of the wind turbine in operation thus enhancing the efficiency of the turbine and improving its overall reliability. Integrating so called LIDARs into the blade will be an extension of LM Glasfiber’s previous blade monitoring technology and the potential for improved yield is impressive. It is expected that the energy production may be increased by up to 5% over the wind turbine’s 20-year life time. It is expected that a prototype of the new application of the LIDAR technology in wind turbines will be available in 2012. LM Glasfiber expects to be able to supply its customers with LIDAR-enabled intelligent blades by 2014.