Arctura has reported field results indicating that ALP20, a blade-tip coating designed to enhance existing lightning protection systems, can reduce lightning-related damage to wind turbine blades during commercial operation. ALP20 is manufactured by Mankiewicz Coatings and uses Arctura’s ArcGuide technology. During the trial, an independent operator monitored 123 turbines of different types through a particularly active lightning season.
The fleet was subsequently inspected by drone. Fifteen turbines were coated with ALP20, while the remaining turbines served as a comparison group. A third-party inspection provider assessed the damage without involvement from Arctura.
The 15 coated turbines recorded 35 lightning strikes during the season, with no lightning-related blade damage identified during the inspections. By comparison, unprotected turbines in the same fleet sustained damage requiring repairs at a rate of approximately 6.6 events per 100 lightning strikes.
In one case, a turbine sustained lightning damage early in the season before ALP20 was applied. Following the coating's application midway through the season, the turbine received additional recorded strikes, including during the season's largest storm, without further damage.
Development and validation of the underlying technology received partial support from the United States Department of Energy's Small Business Innovation Research programme, which requires independent technical peer review at each phase, and the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.
ALP20 is available for both new and existing wind turbine models.
