Green Options

Danish scientists are developing a new wind turbine blade that mimics the stability found in hawk wings during highly-turbulent wind events.

The tremendous dynamic loads put on large wind turbine blades shortens the life of fiberglass blades, adding to the total cost of large-scale wind energy development. But researchers at the Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy in Denmark are developing an elastic component for the trailing-edge of large wind turbine blades that could drastically lengthen the life of those blades, thereby reducing the frequency and likelihood of breakage — and ultimately reducing cost.

The 3M name is already synonymous with tape, so it isn’t that surprising to hear that the company quietly introduced Wind Tape to the market in mid-2007. The tape, which is designed to protect the leading edges of 120-foot fiberglass turbines, costs $288 per 54-foot roll.