• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Corporate News
  • Generation
  • Oil & Gas
  • Regulation
  • Renewable
    • Climate
    • Solar
    • Wind
  • Storage
  • Tech
  • T & D
Energy News Desk Logo

Energy News Desk

Energy News and Data

DOE Funds UMaine 3D Printing Research for Wind Blade Molds

January 29, 2021 by NA Windpower

The University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center has been awarded $2.8 million from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to develop a rapid, low-cost additive manufacturing – 3D printing – solution for fabricating large, segmented wind blade molds. 

In addition, the UMaine Composites Center will collaborate on a $4 million award to Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to apply robotic deposition of continuous reinforcing fibers in wind blades. Currently, innovation in large wind blade technology is a costly and time-intensive process. Molds and tooling for large blades can cost upward of $10 million. The time to market of 16–20 months stifles innovation in this growing market.

“The University of Maine remains committed to additive manufacturing and wind energy technology – this funding will harness researchers’ expertise in both areas,” says Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King. “We are thrilled that the Department of Energy continues to invest in UMaine’s cutting-edge research and prioritizes the advancement of our state’s clean energy economy and the creation of good-paying jobs.”

The molds will incorporate 3D printed heating elements using a new technology developed at ORNL. Control of mold surface temperatures is a critical manufacturing requirement and the new ORNL technology enables robotic deposition of heating elements, reducing mold fabrication time and cost.

The outcome of the proposed research is to transform mold production as a key enabler for more rapid and more cost-effective large wind turbine blade development. TPI Composites and Siemens Gamesa (SGRE) are partnering with the UMaine Composites Center on the project. A successful demonstration will put both SGRE and TPI in a position to transition the additive manufacturing solution into practice.

Original source: North American Wind Power

Filed Under: Renewable, Wind

Primary Sidebar

Join The Daily Charge

This week's top 5 stories in your inbox. No spam ever.

Trending

  • Vineyard Wind Appoints Oytan as Deputy CEO
  • Takkion Holdings Adds O&M Solutions Provider to Offerings
  • NV Energy Receives PUCN Approval for Solar+Storage Projects
  • Emerson Acquires Open Systems Int. Inc.
  • First Semi-Submersible Floating Wind Farm is Fully Operational
  • eia.gov logo EIA expects higher wholesale U.S. natural gas prices in 2021 and 2022
  • PSC Approves Expansion of New York’s Clean Energy Standard
  • Emerson Agrees to Purchase OSI Inc.
  • CPS Energy Issues RFP Seeking Solar, Energy Storage
  • Leeward Completes Construction, Financing on Mountain Breeze Wind Farm

Footer

Trending

  • Vineyard Wind Appoints Oytan as Deputy CEO
  • Takkion Holdings Adds O&M Solutions Provider to Offerings
  • NV Energy Receives PUCN Approval for Solar+Storage Projects
  • Emerson Acquires Open Systems Int. Inc.
  • First Semi-Submersible Floating Wind Farm is Fully Operational

Recent

  • Quick Tips To A Sustainable Future
  • Stem Provides Smart Energy Storage Solutions to Today’s Power
  • EIA's AEO2021 shows U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions rising after the mid-2030s
  • Homeowners associations still a barrier for some would-be solar customers
  • Commentary: With open standards, U.S. can build EV charging infrastructure faster

Search

Contact Us

Write For Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 · EnergyNewsDesk.com