ACT Blade

Larger turbines with longer blades are a popular means to reduce levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) values. However, composite blades suffer from significantly increased weight and cost, increasing fatigue on other turbine components and raising the cost of installation.

The ACT Blade is a tensioned textile-covered wind turbine blade with a shape that can be actively changed to control loads. It is 24% lighter than conventional blades, enabling longer blades and directly contributing to the production of 9% more energy with a 7% reduction in the cost of energy. As they are component based, ACT Blades could result in additional manufacturing savings with 63% tooling costs and 40% factory footprint reductions.

Lighter, cheaper to produce and easier to transport, the ACT Blade is a leap forward in blade technology with real potential to increase the use of wind energy and displace the carbon emission of conventional power generation. Component based, they offer an opportunity to expand into remote zones contributing to local jobs and skills. ACT Blades modular manufacturing techniques are designed for a sustainable end-of-life approach.