Blade Dynamics has shipped what it calls a first-of-its kind modular offshore wind blade to the U.K. for structural testing.
According to Blade Dynamics, the blade – which was constructed at the company's operations at a New Orleans facility owned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – is designed and engineered to reduce variation and ensure better quality control.
Blade Dynamics says such modular technology also offers supply chain benefits, such as simplified blade transportation, and allows wind turbines to be designed and built to produce an overall lower cost of energy.
The completed blade was moved from the NASA assembly facility to the on-site port using transportation equipment designed and last used for the Space Shuttle program. This included the heavy-duty towing equipment used for towing the Space Shuttle's main fuel tanks.
