Investments in research on cold climate wind energy at LTU

mars 13th, 2013

Research at Luleå University of Technology is in the frontline in the field of wind energy in cold climates. Professor Jan-Olof Aidanpää at LTU coordinate the university investment in wind power research. Right now there is a project in which the LTU and Europe leading research institute in polymer composites, Sicomp, test de-icing equipment for wind turbines in coorporation with the Swedish energy companies Skellefteå Kraft and Vattenfall.

Building wind farms in maritime areas has turned out to be expensive. Now building on land is a better option and northern Sweden is a most interesting area for wind power companies. Wind energy research at the university is performed in the context of the Swedish wind technology center, SWPTC.

Jan-Olo Aidanpää, a professor at LTU, is responsible for one of SWPTCs thematic areas, cold climates, where LTU researchers from several different areas are involved alongwith Sicomp. The aim is to solve problems of icing and de-icing of wind turbines, an area where Luleå University of Technology can contribute with well established expertise.

- In collaboration with Sicomp we will evaluate different methods for de-icing and create models for simulating how ice forms, flow behavior and how different materials affect electricity production and power plantlife, says Jan-Olof Aidanpää.

- The last years have meant an explosion in the establishment of wind turbines in areas with cold climates and a better understanding of how ice affects plants and electricity production, is required. The ice can for instance create imbalance as the blades rotate and ice falling from the plant can hurt people.

The tests of de-icing equipment is done both in laboratory and in full-scale plants. The project is financed by the Swedish Energy Agency and by companies through the SWPTC.

For more information, please visit:

www.ltu.se

(Source: www.ltu.se)