A British energy institute has invested more than £15.5m in an Isle of Wight firm aiming to build giant blades for the next generation of 8MW to 10MW offshore wind turbines.
Blade Dynamics is now set to design and produce a series of prototype wind turbine blades by late 2014, which are expected to be the longest in the world.
The company believes its modular assembly process for the blades could cut the levelised cost of offshore wind power by up to €10 per MWh.
Most of the 5-7MW wind turbines in development use 60-75 metre fibre glass blades, but Blade Dynamics’ new blade will be 80-100 metres in length and will be constructed of lighter carbon fibre material.
Unlike other manufacturers which use extremely large moulds to cast blades, Blade Dynamics will outsource smaller 12-20 metre components and assemble them onsite – a process that it claims is more accurate and cost-effective than the traditional method.
The company is already working with an unnamed major turbine manufacturer to design blades and produce four prototype blades in the Solent area. Three of the blades will be fitted onto a rotor for a demonstration turbine.
