DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) funded research conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) where researchers achieved a milestone building a 6.5-foot turbine blade tip with novel materials.
Wind Energy Technologies Office
December 16, 2024
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DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) funded research conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) where researchers achieved a milestone building a 6.5-foot turbine blade tip with novel materials, then testing it against simulated lightning. ORNL-developed carbon fiber made at the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility made the blade tip more conductive, causing voltage to spread over the surface with no damage, but researchers continue to hone methods for dissipating current.