New blade design could cut cost of wind energy by 40%
General Electric is developing a new type of wind blade which it claims could reduce blade production costs by up to 40% and pave the way to longer blades that exceed 130m.
"GE is weaving an advanced wind blade that could be the fabric of our clean energy future," said Wendy Lin, a GE principal engineer and leader on the project. "The fabric we're developing will be tough, flexible and easier to assemble and maintain. It represents a clear path to making wind even more cost competitive with fossil fuels."
GE's research, part of a $5.6million, three year collaboration with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, will focus on the use of architectural fabrics, which it plans to wrap around a metal spaceframe to resemble a fishbone.
The idea is to tension the specially designed fabric around the ribs which run the length of the blade. The concept, according to GE, will allow for larger, lighter turbines exceeding 130m that can capture more wind at lower wind speeds.
In addition, the company says components could be built and assembled on site, meaning design engineers no longer have to concern themselves with manufacturing and transportation limitations.
"Developing larger wind blades is the key to expanding wind energy into areas we wouldn't think of today as suitable for harvesting wind power," Lin continued. "Tapping into moderate wind speed markets, in places like the Midwest, will only help grow the industry in the years to come."
