Preface

Abstract

Proceedings of the 41st Risø International Symposium on Materials Science: Materials and Design for Next Generation Wind Turbine Blades L P Mikkelsen, B Madsen, S FæsterThe 41st Risø Symposium aims to address new requirements for materials and design for next generation wind turbine blades. Over the last 40 years, wind turbine blades have grown an order of magnitude. Today, the longest blades are exceeding 100 meters and weighing 50 tons. Because of this growth in blade size, the cost of wind energy can now compete with fossil-based energy sources on market terms. Together with a wish in society for a zero-emission future, the wind energy sector is foreseen to further expand. This will require new solutions and approaches for next generation wind turbine blades, such as improved mechanical performance and structural reliability, coupled to more sustainable solutions including end-of-life considerations.These new requirements for next generation wind turbine blades will be addressed at the symposium by covering the themes of manufacturing, mechanical properties and performance, experimental characterization and testing, polymer matrices and coatings, and sustainability, life-time extension and end-of-life.The Proceedings contain 5 invited papers, and 40 contributed papers. The 41st Risø International Symposium is organised by the Division of Materials and Components, Department of Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), at the Risø Campus. We would like to thank all those at DTU Wind Energy who assisted in the preparation of the Symposium. We appreciate additionally the support from the international advisory committee consisting of: Kristofer Gamstedt, SE; Roberts Joffe, SE; Hiroyuki Kawada, JP; Marino Quaresimin, IT; Michael Sutcliffe, UK; Ramesh Talreja, US; Michael Wisnom, UK.