Blade Dynamics has announced the award of Process Technology Innovation Funding under the GROW: OffshoreWind program for a GBP 1million Advanced Blade Tip development project, due for completion in Q2 2015.
Blade Dynamics has created a new ‘Advanced Blade Tip’, which improves the critical outer third of a wind turbine blade. This tip is designed to integrate into standard wind turbine blades, creating a ‘hybrid blade’ that upgrades performance whilst using existing manufacturing infrastructure. It features built-in erosion protection, has an aerodynamic profile to enhance energy generation, is lightweight to reduce turbine loads and to allow blades to be extended in length and has an innovative lightning protection system. The Advanced Blade Tip both enhances the performance of offshore wind turbines, increasing Annual Energy Production (AEP), and reduces costs incurred through expensive downtime due to blade deterioration and the current need for frequent maintenance. The project will refine, demonstrate and test the manufacturing technologies used in the tip solution as well as optimise the design of the interface between the tip and the rest of the blade.
