GE designing lower-cost wind blade using fabric

General Electric is developing a new turbine blade design using architectural fabric that it says could significantly reduce construction and assembly costs compared with fiberglass, and put wind energy on an equal economic footing with fossil fuels.

The three-year project won $5.6m in funding support from the US Energy Department. Other project participants are Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

“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,” says Wendy Lin, a GE principal engineer and leader on the project. She did not describe the fabric or its composition.

According to GE, the new design could reduce blade costs 25% Log in to read complete article.

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