WINDBLADES

Carbon Fibers

Novel dry tape for liquid molded composites

MTorres seeks to enable next-gen aircraft and open new markets for composites with low-cost, high-permeability tapes and versatile, high-speed production lines.

Ginger Gardiner
Senior Technical Editor, CompositesWorld

Novel dry tape for liquid molded composites image
Materials

REGEN Fiber launches eco-friendly wind blade recycling process

REGEN Fiber’s sustainable recycling process keeps wind blades out of landfills by converting them into raw materials for use in asphalt, composite products and more.  

Wind/Energy

TPI, GE extend supply agreements, plan next-gen wind blade design collaboration

TPI has manufactured wind blades for GE since 2008. New commitments will lead to the development of new blade types and potentially more production lines in 2023.  

Wind/Energy

Covestro, TMT launch 1,000th polyurethane wind rotor blade

Commercialization of fiberglass-reinforced PU blades are opening a new chapter in the wind blade industry, supporting the development of longer, more robust blade designs.  

Wind/Energy

Vestas expands partnership with long-time blades partner TPI Composites

Continuous collaborative effort is sought to strengthen the wind energy supply chain, such as production setup optimization for current and future wind blade facilities, and evaluation of future locations.  

Wind/Energy

Siemens Gamesa, Airborne collaborate on automation of wind turbine blades

Joint efforts combine years of expertise in the manufacture of wind turbine blades, composite processing and automation to scale up operations.  

Wind/Energy

NREL researchers point to path for improved wind blade recycling rates

Researcher consider strategies like policy regulation and recycling technology development to mitigate the impact of end-of-life wind blades.  

Aerospace

Plant tour: ÉireComposites, Galway, Ireland

An in-house testing business and R&D focus has led to innovative materials use and projects in a range of markets, from civil aerospace to renewable energy to marine.

Hannah Mason
Technical Editor, CompositesWorld

Plant tour: ÉireComposites, Galway, Ireland image
Materials

Moving toward next-generation wind blade recycling

Suppliers, fabricators and OEMs across the composite wind blade supply chain ramp up existing technologies, develop better reclamation methods and design more recyclable wind blades.

Materials

U.K. wind turbine blade recycling project, PRoGrESS, commences

The three-year project seeks to deliver a circular model for wind turbine blades with the building of the U.K.’s first recycling pilot plant and commercialization of University of Strathclyde’s recycling method.  

Materials

DecomBlades consortium releases specifications for disposal of composite wind blades

The Product Disposal Specifications aim to help industrialize wind blade recycling, detailing materials and components of Siemens Gamesa, Vestas and LM Wind Power blades.

Materials

Viable routes to recycling wind turbine blades found in NCC’s sustainable wind research program

Launched SusWIND program aims to establish a viable circular supply chain to tackle the main challenges of legacy and future composite blades in the U.K.

Wind/Energy

Vestas partners with LM Wind Power for V150-4.2 MW blade production in Brazil

The supply agreement further strengthens the flexibility of Vestas’ manufacturing footprint and expands the wind energy supply chain.

Wind/Energy

Hitachi Power Solutions combines AI, drones to enhance wind turbine blade maintenance services

Blade Total Service follows maintenance service guidelines to ensure greater safety and security at wind power facilities when inspecting blades for repair.

Wind/Energy

Dustless, mobile solution for on-site wind turbine blade repurposing

Denmark-based Isodan Engineering ApS translated its expertise in mobile, shipping container-based newspaper recycling systems to solve a need for breaking down wind turbine blades on-site for reuse.

Hannah Mason
Technical Editor, CompositesWorld

Dustless, mobile solution for on-site wind turbine blade repurposing image
Wind/Energy

ZEBRA project launched to develop first 100% recyclable wind turbine blades

A cross-sector consortium has been brought together to demonstrate the relevance of thermoplastic wind turbine blades, with an eco-design approach to facilitate recycling.

Glass Fibers

Composites end markets: Renewable energy (2022)

Driven by growth in offshore wind and global renewable energy and emissions reduction targets, wind energy continues to dominate composites use and R&D efforts.

Wind/Energy

Re-Wind Network releases repurposed blade design catalog

Re:Wind Design fall catalog presents designs and details of structures and products developed from EOL wind blades, as well as the research team’s services for those interested in repurposing their own.

Wind/Energy

Creating stronger composites through nature-inspired, Helicoid designs

Helicoid Industries claims 50% increased toughness, impact strength and reduced material, weight and cost versus quasi-isotropic “fail-safe” designs.

Wind/Energy

NREL explores novel manufacturing approach for next-generation wind turbine blades

3D printing of thermoplastic blades enables thermal welding and improves recyclability, offering the potential to reduce turbine blade weight and cost by at least 10%, and production cycle time by 15%.

Infusion

Designing for automated composites manufacturing of low-volume aerostructures

The commercial aerospace industry is heavily focused on design for efficient high-rate manufacturing, but there is still need for automated, affordable fabrication of low-rate aerostructures.

Suprem Billboard
Glass Fibers

Materials & Processes: Composites fibers and resins

Compared to legacy materials like steel, aluminum, iron and titanium, composites are still coming of age, and only just now are being better understood by design and manufacturing engineers. However, composites’ physical properties — combined with unbeatable light weight — make them undeniably attractive. 

Jeff Sloan
Editor-in-Chief, CompositesWorld

Materials & Processes: Composites fibers and resins image
CAMX Expo

CAMX 2021 Show Daily highlights composite technology innovations

As the CAMX media sponsor, CompositesWorld reported on several new or improved developments on display, from CAMX Award and ACE Award winners, to the keynote speaker and interesting technologies.

Carbon Fibers

Shanghai Electric launches 11-MW, direct-drive offshore turbine with 102-meter blades using carbon fiber

Able to withstand high temperatures, earthquakes and typhoons, the SEW11.0-208 platform mark another breakthrough, in addition to the launched S120, S89 and S90 composite wind blades.

Wind/Energy

GE launches second production line for 107-meter wind turbine blade mold

The Cherbourg, France, facility is to ramp up production to meet offshore wind blade demand, with plans to expand the site with a hall for finishing blades.

Wind/Energy

Vestas intends to cease production at three factories

The company will close three factories producing wind blades and turbine components in Germany, Spain and Denmark. The company maintains 12 sites across Europe.

Additive Manufacturing

GE, Fraunhofer IGCV, Voxeljet to develop the world’s largest 3D printer for offshore wind applications

The partnership will streamline the production of key components of GE’s Haliade-X offshore wind turbine with the advance casting cell (ACC) sand binder jetting 3D printer.

Wind/Energy

GE Renewable Energy receives planning approval for wind blade manufacturing plant

Plant construction is set to begin later this year upon the finalization of all contractual documents and will be completed in 2026, making the Dogger Bank the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

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