Leaders in Wind Technology Gather at 2017 Composites in Wind Workshop

Boulder, CO, April 20, 2017. The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation-(IACMI)

Over one hundred and fifty current and future leaders in wind technology convened for two days at the 2017 Composites in Wind Workshop held at the National Wind Technology Center just south of Boulder, Colorado. The workshop, hosted jointly by, Composites One, the Closed Mold Alliance, and Magnum Venus Products in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

IACMI-The Composites Institute’s CEO, Bryan G. Dods, noted the feedback he received from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, particularly regarding the message of the wind energy industry’s strong economic impact and job outlook from DOE’s program manager for wind analysis work and keynote speaker, Patrick Gilman. Participants also enthusiastically engaged in the opportunity led by Ben Williams, cofounder of data analytics company, HUVR, to learn more about the use of drones for industrial inspection, monitoring and cost savings.

NREL research engineer and IACMI Wind Technology Area Director Derek Berry spoke about the State of Colorado’s leadership on wind technology, commitment to a continued partnership, and research and development capabilities available to industry partners, stating, “Colorado is truly a leader in wind energy innovation and the results you see in this facility reflect the collaboration of the entire composites industry enabled in this region to create national impact.”

While the workshop is an important convening of current leaders in wind technology, a key focus of the event was on the future leaders of the field. Colorado School of Mines students who attended the workshop with the goal of learning more about the use of drone technology in composite wind blade repair, were most appreciative of the drone wind blade repair session and how it contributed to their goals of understanding hands-on innovations in wind blade repair techniques.

In recent years, drone technology has become more advanced than ever before and as a result, drones such as the DJI Drones models for example, are increasingly being used in a variety of enterprise fields to make jobs safer, workflows more efficient, and data more accurate. Ultimately, finding the right drone for the job at hand is crucial, and therefore doing plenty of research is vital.

The Composites in Wind Workshop was held April 18–19 at NREL’s National Wind Technology Center. It helped attendees become more adept in novel composite materials, new fabrication processes, and proven repair techniques for blades, nacelles, and towers. Leading wind energy professionals held on-stage interviews about wind industry outlook, new technologies, and life cycle issues.

The workshop also featured live demonstrations of new technology, equipment repair and rehabilitation training, drone and up-tower inspection, and tours of the National Wind Technology Center.

 

About IACMI-The Composites Institute: The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), managed by the Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation (CCS), is a partnership of industry, universities, national laboratories, and federal, state and local governments working together to benefit the nation’s energy and economic security by sharing existing resources and co-investing to accelerate development and commercial deployment of advanced composites. CCS is a not-for-profit organization established by The University of Tennessee Research Foundation. The national institute is part of the Manufacturing USA network and is supported by a $70 million commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office, and over $180 million committed from IACMI’s partners. Find out more at IACMI.org.