Partners: University of Galway & ÉireComposites
Collaborator: IEA Wind Task 46
Funding: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. €457,000 over the course of 24 months.
Disclaimer: “This project is being supported with financial contribution from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the SEAI National Energy Research, Development & Demonstration Funding Programme 2023, Grant number 23/RDD/1019.”
Overview of the LEProtect Project
Winning funding worth almost €460,000 under the SEAI National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Funding Programme, LEProtect aims to minimise erosion in offshore wind energy by developing a novel, durable and efficient leading edge protection system for wind turbine blades.
Challenges in the Offshore Wind Energy Sector
As Ireland embarks on a journey to become a world leader in offshore wind, energy sector innovation is vital. The government’s Climate Action Plan for 2023 lays out ambitious targets for the installation of an offshore wind capacity of 7GW by 2030, however there are a range of issues the industry must overcome to ensure this is possible. Maintenance costs must be lowered, and operational efficiency must be increased. Offshore wind turbine blades operate in harsh environments, encountering strong UV rays, sand laden winds, rainwater, salt spray, humidity and temperature fluctuations. Battling the elements results in severe erosion of the blades by repeated impacts of water droplets.
The LEProtect Solution
LEProtect addresses these issues, introducing a pioneering leading-edge protection system designed to extend the lifespan of wind turbine blades. This technology will prevent erosion, eliminating the need for repair in unpredictable offshore environments.
Project Consortium
ÉireComposites, a wind turbine blade manufacturer in the Connemara Gaeltacht, has teamed up with researchers at the University of Galway to develop advanced manufacturing designs and technologies for wind turbine blades incorporating the novel system. Together, the partners will manufacture and test blades, both in UGalway’s Large Structure Testing Laboratory and in a wind energy installation, demonstrating the performance of the LEProtect technology.
Key Project Objectives:
- Mechanical Testing: Conduct mechanical tests on thermoplastic composite materials to develop a comprehensive material datasheet.
- Blade Design: Design wind turbine blades that integrate the leading-edge protection system.
- Full-Scale Manufacturing: Manufacture and structurally test full-scale wind turbine blades to mitigate design risks.
- Operational Trials: Demonstrate the new protection system’s performance through real-world trials.
Expected Impacts
The LEProtect project is set to make a significant impact with the development of a thermoplastic polyurethane-based protection system for offshore wind turbine blades. This will lead to:
- Increased Blade Resilience: More robust blades for commercial wind turbine blade manufacturers such as ÉireComposites, reducing maintenance needs.
- Advancing Renewable Energy: Contributing to Ireland’s transition to renewable energy and supporting the achievement of national and international sustainable development goals.
In summary, LEProtect will make offshore wind turbine blades more durable, increasing their lifespan and helping Ireland to meet substantial renewable energy targets.
To learn more about ÉireComposites’ expertise in wind turbine blade manufacturing and other renewable energy projects, have a look here:
