As rotor blades get longer, the tip speed of the blades becomes faster. And with wind turbines being erected in ever-tougher and increasingly remote locations — including offshore sites — this only makes leading edge erosion more of a problem.
Download our white paper describing the problem and see how the different leading edge protection solutions compare to each other.
Leading edge erosion of rotor blades is a widespread damage observed on modern wind turbines. Repairs of eroded leading edges are often costly and time consuming. A forecast by the energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie projects that, by the end of the decade, the money spent repairing leading edges will surpass one billion dollars per year. As rotor blades become longer and tip speeds are increasing, the problem of eroded blades is affecting more and more turbines.
Material developers and turbine blade manufacturers are putting significant efforts into the development of new solutions to overcome the issue of leading edge erosion and thereby minimize the negative effects on power output and maintenance cost.
Putting an end to leading edge erosion requires leading edge protection solutions that are capable of withstanding higher loads and endure the degrading effects of weathering. Combining these material capabilities with simulations that can be used for predictive maintenance is one of the keys to lower the cost of wind energy.
Contact us to learn more about leading edge erosion and to find the best protection solution for your turbines.
