95
An
Approach for Reducing Wind Turbine Tower Weight by 70 Percent by Combining an
Innovative On-Site Manufacturing Method with a Novel Tower Design--Composite
Support & Solutions, Inc., 32526 Seahill Drive, Building C-11, Rancho
Palos Verdes, CA 90275-5866;
310-265-0850
Dr.
Clement Hiel, Principal Investigator, clemhie@aol.com
Dr.
Clement Hiel, Business Official, clemhie@aol.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG03-02ER83390
Amount:
$99,702
The
construction of taller towers for wind turbines would increase energy
production, but significant
technical and economic barriers exist, including: (1) the need for very tall
cranes for the erection of tall (100 meter) towers, and (2) the cost of
constructing and erecting a taller tower is significant ($15, 000/meter).
This project will develop and demonstrate an alternative approach for the
manufacturing and erection of tall towers that would remove these barriers.
Phase I will develop a lightweight composite tower design that can be
manufactured, assembled, and erected on site.
The 86.8 meter tall tower, identified in windpact turbine design studies
published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, will be used as a
benchmark for the design.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits
as described by the awardee: The
technology should be commercially viable for wind turbine towers, electrical
transmission and distribution towers, telecommunication towers, and highway sign
bridges.