A new €4 million research collaboration between 10 European partners is leading the development of seven novel offshore wind turbine blade technologies, which collectively could lower the levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of offshore wind by as much as 4.7%.
These products will be developed and retrofitted to the offshore renewable energy 7MW demonstration turbine (pictured) at Levenmouth in the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh, for demonstration purposes. The innovations will then be ready for deployment on existing or new offshore turbines.
The Offshore Demonstration Blade (ODB) project – whose members include EU-based wind turbine mmanufacturers – is supporting the research, development and demonstration of wind turbine blade innovations, including aerodynamic and structural enhancements, blade monitoring systems and blade erosion protection solutions.
The two-year Demowind-funded project will be coordinated by ORE Catapult Development Services Ltd.A project spokesman explained:
“Operations and maintenance costs represent almost 25% of the total LCOE of an offshore wind turbine, with rotor operations and maintenance, specifically blade erosion and blade structural integrity, representing a large share of these costs.
“Therefore, improving the performance and operational lifetime of turbine blades will have a direct impact in lowering LCOE.”
9 Nov 2017
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