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Science for WInd turbine Resilience to Lightning

Objective

Lightning poses significant risks to both ground-based and airborne structures, including their electrical and electronic systems. Wind turbines (WTs) are particularly vulnerable due to their height, the use of modern composite materials, and the increasing integration of sensitive electronic equipment. As wind power becomes a cornerstone of our carbon-neutral future, lightning damage to WTs already costs over €100 million annually worldwide - expected to rise with the expansion of wind farms and advancements in turbine technology. Despite these challenges, fundamental questions remain about lightning initiation, multiscale physical mechanisms, and the processes governing leader attachment to turbine blades.
The SWIRL Doctoral Network introduces a multidisciplinary consortium of academic and industrial partners to address these challenges by advancing knowledge and developing innovative solutions for WT lightning protection. The network will deliver a cutting-edge, bespoke doctoral training programme, combining a scientific approach with practical technological applications, SWIRL integrates diverse methodologies, including multi-instrumental lightning observations in a WT, advanced high-voltage laboratory testing, state-of-the-art computational modelling, and fostering a unique environment for cross-disciplinary collaboration. The network bridges meteorology, electrical discharge physics, materials science, and electrical engineering, enabling researchers to tackle lightning-related challenges at the intersection of these fields. The programme aims to produce the first generation of experts combining such expertise, to ensure the resilience of wind energy systems and other critical infrastructures. With a strong focus on non-academic involvement, SWIRL ensures that researchers gain exposure to industrial challenges while contributing to solutions that directly address sector needs, this way enhancing their career prospects in both academic and industry sectors.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

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Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN - HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-DN-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 564 376,32
Address
CALLE JORDI GIRONA 31
08034 BARCELONA
Spain

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Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Participants (7)

Partners (11)