The overall project objective and success criterion is to enable a 30% reduction in the cost of produced blades.
Objective:
The MADEBLADES project targets further development and prototype demonstration of a disruptive design and manufacturing solution for large (>90m) offshore wind turbine blades. The main project activities include:
- Development and characterization of fiber preform materials
- Automation of preform lay-up using robots in a preform unit
- Improved offshore wind turbine blade design based on fiber preforms
- Automation of blade layup – handling of fiber preforms
Current manufacturing techniques are due to the size and complexity of wind turbine blades primarily based on manual processes, which are flexible but inefficient.
Expected outcome:
The MADEBLADES project will demonstrate paradigm-shifting concepts for design, material usage and manufacturing processes for industrial blade production with a higher degree of automation. A Danish based logistics chain will be developed to handle pre-fabricated components and transfer blade material to the blade mould with a minimum of manual handling.
Expected impact is a better competitiveness by reduction of cost for offshore wind turbine blades and thereby reduced levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for offshore wind energy. Furthermore, MADEBLADES will improve the scientific understanding of blade manufacturing based on fiber preforms as well as fiber composites in general.
The project began March 2020 and runs until August 2023.
Total project budget: 51.64 mio. DKK.