Design, manufacturing method and prototype testing of an extremely lightweight Offshore Wind blade

The ACT Blade is a modular textile-based composite offshore wind turbine blade. It has a patented innovative manufacturing process that will provide lighter wind turbine blades leading to increased energy production and a decreased the levelised cost of energy (LCOE). In addition, the patent-pending load control system is able to increase blade efficiency and maximise durability. The production of lighter wind turbine blades by ACT Blade will enable larger wind turbines to be deployed within the field, significantly reducing costs per unit of electricity generated. This project aims to design, manufacture, test and validate a prototype of a scaled version of the offshore ACT Blade. The proposed consortium (established by ACT Blade) comprises Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (OREC), together with the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre (LMC) partners: Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC). Between them, the consortium has many years of composites, manufacturing, industrial test, commercial and management experience.