GE is fleshing out designs for a modular blade made up of panels of strong and flexible material stretched over a metal “fishbone-shaped” frame that could undercut the fabrication, assembly and transportation costs attached to conventional fibreglass blades.

Early calculations suggest that the new concept, which would have a 20-year design life, could slash blade costs by 25-40%, making a significant cut to wind power’s overall levelised cost of energy (LCoE).

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