Unique 78 metre wind turbine to be tested at ORE Catapult's National Renewable Energy Centre

The world’s first modular offshore wind turbine blade, designed to be easily assembled in warehouse facilities prior to deployment offshore, is to be tested at the North East's Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult test facility at Blyth.

The 78m blade will undergo a series of dynamic and static tests over the coming six months, providing independent performance verification prior to demonstration installations. The blade has been designed by UK based Blade Dynamics with the support of DECC, Carbon Trust, The Dow Chemical Company, NASA and the Energy Technology Institute. It has been developed with Siemens' offshore turbines in mind. The aerodynamic and structural design are by Blade Dynamics, with component manufacturing in both the UK and US.

The blade's modular design should improve the effectiveness of turbines with reduced weight and better performance, with the advantage of assembly near the deployment site and distributed manufacturing, allowing blade component exports to be developed from the UK.

For more information, help or advice please contact Andrew Davison on 0191 211 7950.