A subsidiary of a yacht-sail developer has adapted its parent company鈥檚 technology to create an ultra-lightweight offshore wind turbine blade.
ACT Blade, a subsidiary of UK yacht-sail developer SMAR Azure, used the light, durable structure of yacht sails to make offshore wind turbine blades.
This allows the blade length to increase by up to 10% compared to a fibreglass design.
Increasing the rotor swept area boosts annual energy production by 9% and cuts the levelised cost of energy by 6.7%, ACT Blade claimed.
The manufacturer said, internally the blade 鈥渋s made of conventional composite structures used in the wind industry鈥, while the overlying textile is 鈥渁 fabric similar to sailcloth to cover the entire blade鈥.
鈥淚 realised that the offshore wind industry was engaged in the same race as we were in the yacht-racing world 鈥 we need to reduce loads and capture more wind power without compromising on durability," said聽CEO Sabrina Malpede.
The manufacturer carried out tests on individual blades at ORE Catapult鈥檚 test centre in north-east England
One of the company鈥檚 13-metre prototype blades underwent three weeks of testing to assess its structural integrity and durability. A post-test inspection showed it held its shape without damage.
Researchers are now analysing optically measured strain and deflection results from within the blade's textile to gain a fuller understanding of the blade鈥檚 behaviour.
Malpede believes the initial test results prove the developer鈥檚 concept.
It now aims to prepare three of its blades for installation on a working turbine at the聽1.9MW Myres Hill wind farm in Renfrewshire, western Scotland later this year.
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