Feature Wind Energy ever larger, ever more powerful Project ....................... p22 SWT ............................. p23 Epoxy .......................... p26 Flax .............................. p27 RTM .............................. p28 Progress ................... p30 project LM Wind Power to develop flexible blade concept T he supplier of wind turbine rotor blades announces the launch of an innovative research project to develop blades with flexible tip lengths that reduce the cost of energy by up to 10%. The four-year project is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and brings together a consortium of partners which includes the Dutch University of Twente and the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN). Reducing the cost of energy LM Wind Power is leading a consortium that will develop a cost-effective, flexible blade length concept with the potential to reduce the cost of energy by 8-10%. This project addresses the untapped potential of optimizing individual wind turbines to their maximum performance by extending the rotor diameter with variable tip lengths. The energy output of a wind turbine depends on its location in the wind farm as each turbine is subject to different wind conditions, often due to wake effects. Many of the wind turbines running today are not loaded to their full capacity as the turbines installed are typically of similar design regardless of their position in the array. This project seeks to change that. 22 jec composites magazine / No90 June - July 2014 A standard basic blade The project looks at design, material, manufacturing and assembly processes to achieve the most flexible and cost efficient solution. The concept is based on a standard basic blade part with variable tip lengths. It builds on an existing lightweight composite blade design, but innovates by using an assembly process which leads to a permanent assembly of the two blade parts, adding minimal weight. The result is a larger rotor that significantly increases annual energy production for a relatively small investment. The flexible tips will be manufactured separately, enabling the use of specific techniques and a one-shot manufacturing technology while providing economies of scale. Assembly will be done on or near site. The consortium points to offshore as the area that will benefit most from the method as the improved performance from the blade length optimization will see a quicker payback at sea. The new rotor blade will also be a universal solution that can be adapted to various turbines and applied in every wind farm. The four-year project is co-funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs through the TKI Wind op Zee (Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation Offshore Wind). n More information: www.lmwindpower.comhttp://www.selcom-srl.com http://www.lmwindpower.com