The role of polymeric technology in supporting the growing wind industry

The wind power industry has grown significantly in recent years. However, achieving the net-zero emissions target by 2050, as outlined in the Paris Agreement, requires even faster and more substantial growth.

 

Polymeric repair and protection technologies are essential to support this expansion. These technologies are specifically designed to ensure the long-term integrity of wind turbine blade edges, making them a critical component of the industry’s success.

 

1. Wind electricity generation must quadruple by 2030

According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Wind Electricity Tracking Report (September 2022): “In 2021, wind electricity generation increased by a record 273 TWh, a 17% rise. This growth was 55% higher than in 2020 and marked the largest increase among all renewable power technologies.”

 

 

Despite these impressive gains, the IEA reports that wind electricity generation needs to quadruple its 2020 levels by 2030. The report highlights the need for rapid scaling, stating:

“Our pathway calls for scaling up solar and wind rapidly this decade, reaching annual additions of 390 GW of wind by 2030.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Financing the expansion of the Wind Industry

 

According to the IEA, policy support remains the primary driver for wind power deployment globally. Over recent years, various policies have been introduced to accelerate renewable energy adoption. For example:

 

  • In August 2022, the United States enacted the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), allocating $369 billion in investments.
  • The European Commission’s Green Deal Industrial Plan pledged $270 billion.
  • Since November 2020, the UK government’s Ten Point Plan has mobilized over £26 billion in public investments.

 

3. Supporting growing fleets of wind turbines with polymeric technology

Given the pivotal role of wind energy in achieving a net-zero future and the massive investments flowing into the renewable energy sector, the wind power industry is expected to grow exponentially in the coming decades. Polymeric technology is crucial for maintaining the efficiency of an ever-expanding fleet of wind turbines.

Systems like the Belzona 5711 blade repair material and the Belzona 5721 leading-edge protection coating are designed to restore and protect turbine blades from rain erosion and impact damage.

These technologies are favored by maintenance engineers for their ease of use, on-site application, and quick curing times. This minimizes downtime, allowing turbines to return to service on the same day.

 

For example, Belzona 5711 can be overcoated with Belzona 5721 after just 30 minutes at 20°C (68°F) without additional surface preparation. At the same temperature, Belzona 5721 fully cures within five hours.

 

Refer to the Belzona product system exclusively distributed by VIVABLAST in Vietnam HERE.