Arctura has announced that it has won a $1.15-million Phase IIB SBIR grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to commercialise a new blade coating designed to reduce the damage to wind turbine blades caused by lightning.
Arctura is pioneering a new coating system that will lessen the damage to wind turbine blades caused by lightning by promoting the formation of ionisation channels over the surface of the turbine blades, providing a safe external path for lightning energy to reach the ground and preventing damaging blade punctures. The new technology is applicable to both new and existing turbine designs, for both onshore and offshore sites. Arctura will use the funds to pilot the product in two extended field trials. One of the two trials will be performed at a wind farm owned and operated by an affiliate of Leeward Renewable Energy.
