Feasibility Study for a Breakthrough Core System to Enable Fault Tolerant Manufacture of High Performances Composites Wind Blades

Project Information

KORIDION

Grant agreement ID: 698491

DOI

10.3030/698491

Project closed

EC signature date 6 August 2015

Start date 1 September 2015

End date 29 February 2016

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

Thurckon Srl
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - KORIDION (Feasibility Study for a Breakthrough Core System to Enable Fault Tolerant Manufacture of High Performances Composites Wind Blades)

Reporting period: 2015-09-01 to 2016-02-29

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

THURCKON is an Italian SME operating since 2000 in the sector of chemical auxiliaries, polymers, coatings and specialty materials for different industrial sectors. THURCKON, in the framework of a R&D partnership, developed a self-expanding, thermoplastic, acrylic-based polymer named KORIDION. The related IPR is protected with a patent owned by the UK company TRYONIC, THURCKON having the exclusive rights for its exploitation into new products, formalized through a joint development agreement. This study was focused on the evaluation of the feasibility of the use of KORIDION material for the production of high performance composite materials wind blades.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Within the project, both technical and economic analyses have been performed. The first activities focused on the analysis of the wind blades sector from a technological point of view. In particular, the main wind blades manufacturing processes and design have been reviewed, highlighting the main technological key drivers through a dedicated patent analysis. The study also highlights the main technical criticalities and needs of wind blades.
In addition, the KORIDION material has been described highlighting the advantages of its use in the manufacturing of composite wind blades. Moreover, a preliminary evaluation of the environmental impacts associated to KORIDION process has been performed in order to validate the environmental sustainability of such innovative technology.
Further activities focused on the analysis of the wind energy market for the identification of market trends, forecast and main needs and challenges of the sector players. A Porter's five forces analysis has been done to analyze the level of competition within the target market. A preliminary business model has been also developed.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The feasibility study confirms the key advantages of the KORIDION technology well beyond the state of the art in composite wind blades manufacturing:
• Simplicity: KORIDION material allows the implementation of a conceptually simple composite manufacturing process
• Reliability: thanks to a process that assures repeatable performances guaranteed by simple inspection means
• Reduced Cost of Energy: in accordance with energy sector growing needs. This is possible thanks to a reduction of CAPEX (for example no more autoclaves would be needed, pressure is guaranteed by KORIDION expansion properties), and a reduction of OPEX (as will be explained further first of all with the elimination of complex parts, such as spars, where expensive materials like carbon fiber reinforcements are needed; moreover thanks to process automation possibilities, elimination of joining processes, etc.).

Thurckon expects to have a positive impact in terms of company growing thanks to this project. In particular, Thurckon expect to hire at least 4 people in 3 years after the project end.

In addition, considering social aspects, KORIDION project will impact positively on environmental aspect thanks to the energy saving for the production (thanks to the new process) and functioning (thanks to the increasing of lightness, robustness and durability) of composite wind blades.

logo-koridion.png