The wind industry has been drastically affected by the COVID-19 epidemic and as a direct consequence, wind energy installations in Europe for 2020 are expected to be 30% down compared to industry forecasts \[Wind Europe-Newsroom COVID-19\]. Government restrictions placed on the factories that manufacture the turbine blades have limited capacity due to closures and social distancing. To maintain global installed capacity targets and production schedules, a noticeable increase in production capacity of each facility is required.

The project will focus on development of innovative ways to locate the mould halves in a stack-able configuration, with one mould half always remaining above the other, minimising the space required for each mould. Research is required to identify a method of supporting the top half sufficiently, to allow workers to laminate the composites in both mould halves simultaneously, even while the top half is still above the other. This disruptive solution will revolutionise the wind turbine manufacturing process.

The aim of this project is to enable the renewable energy sector to meet the sustainable energy targets stipulated in The Paris Agreement (2015) by reducing the footprint of the moulds (targeting a 50% reduction). This will in turn increase the production capacity of the turbine blade manufacturing facilities by 100%, subsequently allowing more moulds to be installed in the same given footprint. Consideration of system re-usability will also be considered in the research phase of the project aiming to promote circular economy by keeping materials in use, designing out waste and pollution and promoting regenerating natural systems.

This novel technology addresses a number of problems with current solutions:

1\. Footprint for required installation

2\. Re-usability of mould actuation system for future mould designs

3\. Suitability for larger offshore wind turbine blades in excess of 100m

Grant funding will provide the means to develop the first working prototype of a footprint optimised mould actuation system in the world.