Structural Performance Validation of a Glass Fibre-Reinforced Composite Demonstrator for Wind Turbine Blades

As the world moves towards a more sustainable way of life, Ireland must invest significantly in creating a carbon-free energy system. Currently, in Ireland, the largest source of renewable energy is wind. According to the Irish government’s Climate Action Plan 2021, the development of offshore wind will be facilitated, including connecting at least 5 GW of offshore wind, based on competitive auctions, to the grid by 2030. The typical life span of a wind turbine is 20 years but it can be extended to 25 years or longer depending on environmental factors and maintenance procedures. Therefore, the structural performance of rotor blades is vital to ensure a safe operation of a wind turbine during its life span. As the wind turbine blade can be considered as a slender structure, which mainly suffers flexural loading, its strength at the root region is critical in structural design.