Nanowings | NANOmetric bio-inspired coating for wind turbine WINGS ice protection

Summary
Although winters are the best season for wind energy harvesting, icing is a major problem affecting the competiveness of this type of renewable energy. In Europe, about 94% of the windfarms have suffered icing events, which reduce turbine performance and causing even temporary shutdowns. Indeed, icing-induced power output losses in wind farms are found to reach over 20% of the annual production. There is not yet an efficient, cost-effective anti-icing or de-icing solution on the market: active solutions (thermal and mechanical systems) present low efficiency while passive technologies (typically coatings and paints) are not easily applied, and their durability and effectiveness are not well demonstrated.
Nanowings will overcome the icing challenge by developing a disruptive transparent nanocoating (super-glue polymers and nanoparticles blended formulation) with outstanding anti-icing and anti-fouling properties that can be applied in-situ via an innovative, portable, and light module (mini-electrospinning and heating system) which can be mounted under a remotely controlled drone. 5 g/m2 of the nanomaterial coated over the surface of a fiberglass-reinforced polyester or epoxy wind turbine blade creates a nano-rough layer (0.5 µm thick) that reduces the wettability of the surface and imprint self-cleaning properties. By avoiding ice accretion, Nanowings reduces downtimes and increases the electricity production of the wind turbine.
Nanowings is seizing a new concept of engineering and electrospinning of nanomaterials demonstrated at lab scale by partner LINARI. Moreover, the international consortium brings together top-notch academics (DTU) with seminal contributions in advanced nanomaterials and wind turbines performance under icing conditions; a well-recognized utility company (ENEL) as end-user and key testing partner (Valdihuelo Wind Farm - Spain), and an SME (EOLOGIX) with innovation in on-site wind turbines inspection based on avant-garde adhesive sensors.
Unfold all
/
Fold all
More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101099620
Start date: 01-01-2023
End date: 31-12-2025
Total budget - Public funding: 2 495 626,25 Euro - 2 495 626,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

Although winters are the best season for wind energy harvesting, icing is a major problem affecting the competiveness of this type of renewable energy. In Europe, about 94% of the windfarms have suffered icing events, which reduce turbine performance and causing even temporary shutdowns. Indeed, icing-induced power output losses in wind farms are found to reach over 20% of the annual production. There is not yet an efficient, cost-effective anti-icing or de-icing solution on the market: active solutions (thermal and mechanical systems) present low efficiency while passive technologies (typically coatings and paints) are not easily applied, and their durability and effectiveness are not well demonstrated.
Nanowings will overcome the icing challenge by developing a disruptive transparent nanocoating (super-glue polymers and nanoparticles blended formulation) with outstanding anti-icing and anti-fouling properties that can be applied in-situ via an innovative, portable, and light module (mini-electrospinning and heating system) which can be mounted under a remotely controlled drone. 5 g/m2 of the nanomaterial coated over the surface of a fiberglass-reinforced polyester or epoxy wind turbine blade creates a nano-rough layer (0.5 µm thick) that reduces the wettability of the surface and imprint self-cleaning properties. By avoiding ice accretion, Nanowings reduces downtimes and increases the electricity production of the wind turbine.
Nanowings is seizing a new concept of engineering and electrospinning of nanomaterials demonstrated at lab scale by partner LINARI. Moreover, the international consortium brings together top-notch academics (DTU) with seminal contributions in advanced nanomaterials and wind turbines performance under icing conditions; a well-recognized utility company (ENEL) as end-user and key testing partner (Valdihuelo Wind Farm - Spain), and an SME (EOLOGIX) with innovation in on-site wind turbines inspection based on avant-garde adhesive sensors.

Status

SIGNED

Call topic

HORIZON-EIC-2022-TRANSITIONOPEN-01

Update Date

09-02-2023
Images
No images available.
Geographical location(s)
Structured mapping
Unfold all
/
Fold all
Horizon Europe
HORIZON.3 Innovative Europe
HORIZON.3.1 The European Innovation Council (EIC)
HORIZON.3.1.0 Cross-cutting call topics
HORIZON-EIC-2022-TRANSITION-01
HORIZON-EIC-2022-TRANSITIONOPEN-01 EIC Transition Open 2022