GE Renewable Energy, COBOD and LafargeHolcim have partnered up to co-develop wind turbines with optimized 3D printed concrete bases, reaching record heights of up to 200 meters.
The three partners will participate in a multi-year collaboration to create this solution, which will increase the production of renewable energy while reducing the Levelized Energy Cost (LCOE) and optimizing the construction costs.
The partners will ultimately produce a prototype wind turbine with a printed pedestal, and a range of ready-to-produce printers and materials to increase production.
The three partners aim to generate more renewable energy per turbine by exploring ways to economically develop taller towers that capture stronger winds.
GE Renewable Energy will provide expertise in designing , manufacturing and marketing wind turbines, COBOD will focus on robotics automation and 3D printing, and LafargeHolcim will design, process and use the custom made concrete material.
“Concrete 3D printing is a very promising technology for us, as its incredible design flexibility expands the realm of construction possibilities. Being both a user and promoter of clean energy, we are delighted to be putting our material and design expertise to work in this groundbreaking project, enabling cost efficient construction of tall wind turbine towers and accelerating access to renewable energy.”
Edelio Bermejo, head of R&D for LafargeHolcim.
“We are extremely proud to be working with world-class companies like GE Renewable Energy and LafargeHolcim. With our groundbreaking 3D printing technology combined with the competence and resources of our partners, we are convinced that this disruptive move within the wind turbines industry will help drive lower costs and faster execution times, to benefit customers and lower the CO2 footprint from the production of energy.
Henrik Lund-Nielsen, founder of COBOD International.
“3D printing is in GE’s DNA and we believe that Large Format Additive Manufacturing will bring disruptive potential to the Wind Industry. Concrete printing has advanced significantly over the last five years and we believe is getting closer to have real application in the industrial world. We are committed to taking full advantage of this technology both from the design flexibility it allows as well as for the logistic simplification it enables on such massive components.”
Matteo Bellucci, advanced manufacturing technology leader for GE Renewable Energy.
