The project, which aims to develop innovative hybrid testing methods for reliable critical components in wind turbines, sparks great interest among expert representatives from GE, IBERDROLA, ORE CATAPULT, SIEMENS-GAMESA, SIRRIS-OWI LAB and VESTAS.
The INNTERESTING (short for: Innovative Future-Proof Testing Methods for Reliable Critical Components in Wind Turbines) project partners are working on the development of a disruptive hybrid methodology to demonstrate the reliability of larger wind turbine critical components without the need of building larger test benches. In order to review the progress of the development of the methodology, the project has set up a Technical Advisory Group, which advises and supports the consortium on its developments to ensure consistency in the project outcomes in accordance with market expectations.
On the 2nd of December 2021, the project partners held an online meeting with expert representatives from GE, IBERDROLA, ORE CATAPULT, SGRE, SIRRIS-OWI LAB and VESTAS, which are part of the aforementioned Technical Advisory Group. The objective of the meeting was to show the experts the progress made in different project activities and to have an open discussion in order to get feedback and advice from the experts for future steps.
During the meeting IKERLAN, coordinator of the project and a leading knowledge transfer technological centre; LAULAGUN, manufacturer and supplier of special large-size bearings and slewing rings up to 6,000 mm outer diameter; and KU Leuven, research and educational institution, gave an overview of the progress and results obtained so far regarding virtual testing, simplified physical testing, upscaling techniques and full-scale physical validation.
The session was mainly oriented to an open discussion format, in which experiences, lessons learnt, and recommendations were actively shared among the participants. The consortium received enriching feedback from the experts regarding the progress made on virtual validation processes, variability of the load, uncertainties, manufacturing effects and processes, multibody models for bearings, pitch repairing solution, or the selection of simplified tests and failure modes, among others. Additionally, the experts also advised on the feasibility of the strategy proposed for the tasks about smart fusion towards upscaling and full-scale physical validation. Furthermore, they shared the latest tendencies in the sector, as well as their know-how on the development of digital twins for wind power.
Participation in Wind Europe Copenhagen
Another important project milestone was the participation by INNTERESTING in Wind Europe Copenhagen 2021 on 23 - 25 November, the largest on- and offshore wind energy event in Europe with 8,000 participants, 400 exhibitors, 70 conference sessions and 300 presenters (including Government Ministers, leading CEOs and experts from the worlds of technology, policy and finance).
INNTERESTING had a stand in the Innovation Park, a pavilion inside the Exhibitor Zone of Wind Europe Copenhagen designed to promote research and findings of EU projects. Representatives of the project were attending the exhibition space in order to give further information about the progress and objectives of the project to everyone who raised interest. Besides the exhibition space, INNTERESTING also had a 20-minute-long presentation session on the Innovation Stage on the first event day.
