Imagine a non-stick frying pan, but for giant wind turbine blades. This technology creates a super-thin, water-repellent layer that stops ice from sticking to the blades in winter. By keeping the blades clean, the turbines can keep spinning and generating power even in freezing weather.
Ice buildup on wind turbine blades reduces aerodynamic efficiency and can cause total plant shutdowns. This leads to significant electricity production losses and safety risks from falling icicles.
A transparent nanocoating made of super-glue polymers and nanoparticles, and a portable on-site application machine with a heating system for blade adhesion.
If you are a wind farm operator dealing with icing events that affect 94% of European sites — this project developed a transparent nanocoating that reduces ice accretion. This prevents the 20% annual production losses typically caused by icing.
If you are a drone manufacturer dealing with ice buildup on wings in cold climates — this project developed a 0.5 µm thick nano-rough layer. This reduces surface wettability and adds self-cleaning properties to improve flight efficiency.
If you are a coating provider dealing with the lack of durable, easy-to-apply passive anti-icing solutions — this project developed a blend of super-glue polymers and nanoparticles. This creates a high-performance protective film for fiberglass-reinforced polyester or epoxy surfaces.
Based on available project data, specific pricing or cost per square meter is not provided, though the objective is to be more cost-effective than active thermal or mechanical systems.
The project is moving toward industrial scale by testing application at the Valdihuelo wind farm in Spain and developing a portable application module.
Based on available project data, specific patent numbers or licensing terms are not listed, but the technology is based on engineering demonstrated at lab scale by Linari Engineering.
The project developed a machine for on-site application featuring a heating system to boost adhesion, after finding that drone-mounted electrospinning was unfeasible due to weight and safety limits.
The project period runs from 2023-01-01 to 2026-04-30, suggesting the final results and validation will be available by April 2026.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven with an 80% industry ratio, consisting of 4 industrial partners and 1 university (DTU). This structure, featuring 2 SMEs and a major utility company (Enel Green Power), indicates a strong focus on commercial viability and real-world testing rather than pure academic research.
Contact LINARI ENGINEERING SRL in Italy for licensing and application details.
Contact SciTransfer to connect with the Nanowings consortium for pilot implementation.
