Designed at a down-scaled length of about 80 metres, the prototype, being developed under the aegis of the Energy TechnologiesInstitute’s ‘Very Long Blade Project’, has been engineered by UK outfit Blade Dynamics, based on a concept that uses proprietary jointing techniques to assemble sections ranging in length from 10-25 metres into a lightweight, ultra-long unit.
Plans are to have the prototype ready for static and fatigue tests by the end of 2014, with a three-bladed rotor ready for installation on a first turbine “late in 2015”.
“This
