Ice repellent surfaces

Nanostructuring

An ultrashort pulse laser was used to create nanostructures in the sub-micrometer range on different surfaces. Subsequently, the extent to which these water-repellent structures can impede ice adhesion or reduce icing duration was investigated. For this purpose, the nanostructured samples were iced in a climatic wind tunnel and the ice formation on the sample surface was quantitatively recorded. Individual samples were also used in field tests on a small wind turbine or exposed together with reference samples.

The research project was carried out in cooperation with the Institute of Manufacturing and Photonic Technologies at the Vienna University of Technology.

nice projekt
cooperative research and development projects

IEA Research Cooperation

The goal of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Wind Technology Collaboration Program (Wind TCP) is to stimulate international collaboration in the field of wind energy research and to provide high-quality information and analysis to member states and industry. The focus of the work is on technology development, market introduction, and market and policy instruments.

The Energy Workshop is involved in two tasks here: In Task 52 “Latitude Application of Wind LiDAR” and in Task 54 “Wind Energy in Cold Climates”.

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Risk analyses for ice formation on wind turbines

Risk due to ice fall

Wind power utilization in Austria faces the challenges of ice formation on wind turbines due to climatic and geographical conditions. Under meteorological conditions such as freezing fog or freezing rain, ice buildup can occur on wind turbine (WTG) rotor blades. If this ice detaches from the rotor blade surface, the ice fragments that fall or are flung away in this way can pose a safety risk to the surrounding area.

The icing of wind turbines is a major challenge, especially at Austrian wind energy sites, all the more so if one takes into account the expansion of renewable energy targeted for the future.

Projekt R.Ice
Wind Atlas and Wind Potential Study Austria

Austrian Wind Atlas

Using geo-statistical and numerical modeling, a wind atlas was calculated for the entire federal territory at a resolution of 100 x 100 meters grid area.
Based on this, the theoretically maximum mobilizable wind energy potentials at district level (in the form of installable capacity) were estimated.

The wind atlas was produced as part of the AuWiPot project from 2009 to 2011 and funded by the Climate and Energy Fund.

Austrian Wind Potential Analysis e1656324856758
Development of wind power in Southeast Europe

Wind energy in SE Europe

Wind farm locations in Southeastern Europe and especially in the Balkan region offer excellent conditions for wind energy utilization, but also pose a great challenge for wind farm design and wind turbine technology due to extreme wind speeds, turbulence and wind shear.

In this area of tension, the project “SEEWIND – South-East European Wind Energy Exploitation” was carried out in the 6th Framework Program of the European Commission. The R&D project was coordinated by Energiewerkstatt, had a duration of 90 months and a total budget of € 9.6 million.

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