Objective The increasing global demand for renewable energy utilization sets a positive growth scenario for the wind energy sector. Indeed, it is predicted that the global wind power capacity at 318 GW at the end of 2013, to reach 618 GW by the end of 2020. However, despite the growth potential, the wind energy sector faces several challenges that might endanger its long term sustainability. These challenges refer mainly to the industry competitiveness, which is increasingly affected by the price reduction of other energy alternatives, and because the most profitable (windiest) places are already occupied, the available free space is less profitable in terms of bulk energy generation, as well as a progressive reduction in government level subsidies (example in UK and Spain). This results in a strong price sensitivity for the wind energy sector, for which the only alternative goes through a significant reduction of bulk power costs. Considering that the price of wind turbines accounts for more than 80% of the total costs of a wind farm (2M-4M€/turbine), it is clear that reducing wind turbines prices is the only meaningful solution for the long term sustainability of the sector. 3D-COMPETE will provide the wind energy sector with a low cost solution for manufacturing the complex and heavy structural parts of wind blades. The proposed innovation is the use of an additive manufacturing process, automated fibre placement (AFP), which will enable the automation of the process. Our solution will reduce the manufacturing costs of these components by 40% (from 4,000€/ton down to 2,400€/ton). As for understanding the business opportunity, 3D-COMPETE solution will bring our customer (wind blade manufacturers) savings that can range €3.5M/year (for smaller clients that produce ~400 wind blades/year) up to €26M (for larger clients that produce ~3,000 blades/year). Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositessocial sciencessociologyindustrial relationsautomationsocial scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness modelsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energywind powerengineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringadditive manufacturing Programme(s) H2020-EU.2.1.2. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Nanotechnologies Main Programme H2020-EU.2.1.5. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced manufacturing and processing H2020-EU.2.1.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced materials H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument Topic(s) SMEInst-02-2016-2017 - Accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs Call for proposal H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017 Funding Scheme SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1 Coordinator CAIZAM COMPOSITES SL Net EU contribution € 50 000,00 Address PAGO DE LOS PARQUES 14 PUERTA 28 28109 MADRID Spain See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 71 429,00