Why Two-Piece Blades Create Massive Engineering Problems
Highlights from EP 272 & exclusive content
⏱️ 6 minute read ⏱️
Tuesday’s Uptime Wind Energy Podcast got a little technical, as Allen, Joel, and Rosemary discussed the engineering challenges of a two-part blade design - including some of the nitty-gritty details of the patent application filed by Nordex - and dug into some of the how, and more of the why, behind China’s latest wind marvel - the world’s largest floating wind turbine.
Links below take you straight to the stories we’re covering, and listening to the podcast gives you a richer understanding of the news, as our engineers aren’t shy about sharing their informed, educated, and sometimes even entertaining opinions about the stories making headlines.
Subscribe, listen, read the notes below and stay up to date with the wind energy world with us!
China’s 20-MW Floating Wind Farm is Amazing
But what is it really?
While China now claims the title as the home of the world’s largest floating wind turbine, and our team is duly impressed, we got past some of the engineering and design to question effectiveness. And efficiency. And motive.
About the innovations: The massive turbines, with a rotor diameter of 853’/260m, were transported using specialized modular units. They feature “typhoon resistance technology” (not fully described in the info we saw) and there’s no doubt that the Qihang turbine advances China’s position as a leader in offshore wind technology.
But…well, maybe this sounds like sour grapes, but is it about prestige? Is it a massive R&D exercise? Or does Qihang really address some of the confounding issues designers must overcome to make floating wind a reliable, viable option?
Did we mention the technology is Chinese? Yeah. We’re not likely to get answers to a lot of these questions anytime soon. But we’ll keep asking.
Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think here, or join the conversation on our LinkedIn page. We love to hear our listeners and readers.
Does Nordex Have a New Angle on 2-Part Blades?
Just for fun, Allen was looking at the patent applications, and he had to bring this to the discussion: Nordex has applied for a patent based on its new design of a two-part turbine blade. Spoiler alert: it’s a “sleeve.”
The difficulties of assembling a blade from parts is well-known, but the appeal of such a design is pretty obvious: it’s a heck of a lot easier to get a blade where it needs to go when it’s in smaller pieces. Especially if it needs to go over rough ground, on narrow roads, around tight corners, up a mountain, and … well, you get the picture. But the bottom line - at least in countries not named China - is, do the transportation savings hold up to the design’s performance and longevity?
We’re always up for a discussion like that!
Let’s Talk (Emergency) Logistics
Are you in, or responsible for, offshore crews off the US East coast? Then you definitely want to learn more about HeliService USA. We interviewed the principals at HeliService about the company’s unique and much-needed Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) offerings for offshore wind farms. If someone working in the Atlantic has even a minor medical emergency, they’re not going to get immediate care from the US Coast Guard because the Coast Guard simply doesn’t have the resources to cover the east coast. But HeliService can help, right away. Listen to the interview here and read the in-depth article about HeliService USA in the latest PES Wind magazine. (It’s FREE. If you don’t subscribe, you probably should!)
After Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind takes a Time-Out, Will it Be Viable?
After Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a partnership between Shell and EDF Renewables North America, filed to cancel its 1.5GW offshore wind project off Atlantic City. The company cited economic challenges including inflation, supply chain disruptions, and the Trump administration's federal permitting freeze as primary reasons for the cancellation.
If you’re wondering what the Administration would say to the approximately 700,000 New Jersey home owners who were expecting to get power from the project, so are we. And the jobs it would have created. And the planned $35.6M investment in a local manufacturing space. And the $4M for workforce development programs.
What do you think will happen? The administration is not quite 6 months into its second term. Is there a parallel universe where Atlantic Shores becomes the poster child for clean energy and an example of a genius move by the current US administration? We have our say on this week’s podcast. You tell us what you think here.
Great Lakes States Could Learn from the Netherlands
Located in Lake IJsselmeer, Windpark Fryslân, with a 382 MW capacity, has been fully operational since December 2021. It’s the world’s largest offshore wind farm in fresh water.
It’s powerful: 89 Siemens Gamesa turbines there produce roughly 1.5 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, or the equivalent of 1.2% of the country’s electricity consumption. While powering approximately 500,000 households, Windpark Fryslan offsets approximately 800,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
It’s bird-and-fish friendly: The “natural island” formed during construction was designed to provide a forage and resting area for birds, with an adjacent artificial reef for fish. The area is protected against waves and tides by an 800-metre long dam.
And it’s aiding tourism! The annual Windmill Cup has become a worldwide sailing competition.
What else could states in the Great Lakes learn from Windpark Feyslan? Joel’s got a pretty long list in this week’s Uptime podcast - listen! - and if you’re on the shores of Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, or Superior, let us know if you’d like a wind farm in your Great Lake!
Read more about its construction by Van Oord, here.
Congratulations to everyone at Windpark Fryslan, our wind farm of the week!
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Where’s the Lightning Near You? Find Out
The Western US was getting hammered earlier this week. What are your turbines up against? Find out. Lightning will shorten the life of your equipment!
What’s the difference between StrikeTape and other lightning diverters?
StrikeTape is proven to protect wind turbine blades in the real-world conditions where wind farms operate. Many other diverters fail in the field because they’re inadequately designed, not made of high-quality materials, not properly positioned, or not properly installed.
StrikeTape lightning diverters were designed and manufactured specifically for the wind industry.
The materials used in StrikeTape have been rain-erosion and UV tested. (See the specs here.)
Our engineers work with clients to ensure that the diverter’s placement is optimal for their equipment and site conditions, and that they are installed to maximize protection and longevity.
Want the best protection for your blades? Get StrikeTape.
Got questions? Get answers ➡️Joel.saxum@wglightning.com
Lightning Will Strike Webinar Replay
Missed the webinar? Listen to the (free!) replay, here - and share with someone it could help.
Lightning Will Strike: Uptime Podcast, PES Wind & SkySpecs Webinar
In the webinar, Matthew Stead, Chief Product Officer with Eologix-Ping, Matt Sigala, Senior Manager, Composite Repair Services with EDF Renewables, and Uptime hosts Allen Hall and Joel Saxum discussed the best strategies to monitor for strikes, inspect for damage, and how to manage repairs. The webinar offered some practical action items for operators. Listen here!
⚡️NEWSFLASH 6/16/25:
🔆 SPOTLIGHT 6/12/25:
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Interesting Finds From Around the Web
China Unveils 20-Megawatt Floating Wind Giant That Leaves the US Reeling
Company behind offshore wind project tells New Jersey it wants to cancel plans
GreenSpur’s wind turbine tech promises cost cuts by investing
Lithuania to relaunch offshore wind tender after failing to attract bidders
Wind Energy Stock Watch
Vestas (VWDRY) $5.48 USD
GE (GEV) $488.66 USD
Siemens Energy AG (SMNEY) $101.72 USD
Goldwind (XJNGF) $.91USD
Iberdrola (IBE.MC) €16.25 EUR
Nordex (NRDXF) $19.78 USD
Stock prices as of close Tuesday, June 17. Note some stocks use OTC Delayed Price.
Stay informed: Uptime Tech News delivers wind energy news and insights on the latest technology, fresh from experts around the world. If you learned something, please forward to a friend. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, subscribe now.
Have a great week and thanks for listening! - Allen, Rosie, Joel, Phil & everyone from the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast
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