SOUNDofICE · Project

Sound Waves That Detect and Remove Ice from Wind Turbines and Aircraft

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Imagine your phone screen vibrating to shake off water — now scale that up to an airplane wing or a wind turbine blade. This project figured out how to use tiny sound waves (the same kind in your phone's speaker) to both detect when ice forms on a surface and then shake it off automatically. The same device does both jobs, which means less hardware, less weight, and no chemicals. It works on metals, composites, and other industrial materials, making it a potential drop-in upgrade for existing equipment.

By the numbers

consortium partners collaborating on acoustic de-icing

countries contributing expertise (AT, DE, ES, FI, PL)

SMEs with first-hand icing experience for technology transfer

total project deliverables produced

demo deliverables including patent applications and icing facility tests

The business problem

What needed solving

Ice buildup on wind turbines, aircraft, and refrigeration systems costs industries billions annually in downtime, maintenance, chemical treatments, and energy waste. Current de-icing methods rely on heavy heating elements, toxic chemicals, or manual intervention — all expensive, environmentally harmful, and reactive rather than preventive. There is no widely available solution that can both detect ice formation and remove it automatically using the same lightweight, low-energy device.

The solution

What was built

The team built proof of concept acoustic wave devices that detect and remove ice from industrial surfaces, validated them in modified ice wind tunnels and icing test facilities, and filed patent applications covering the core technology. They also developed surface engineering methods to integrate micron-size electrodes with anti-icing coatings on large-area substrates relevant to aeronautics and wind energy.

Audience

Who needs this

Wind turbine blade manufacturers (Siemens Gamesa, Vestas, LM Wind Power)Aircraft component and systems manufacturers (Safran, Collins Aerospace, Liebherr)Wind farm operators in cold climates (Nordics, Canada, Alps)Refrigeration and HVAC equipment manufacturersAnti-icing coating and surface treatment companies

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Wind Energy

enterprise

Target: Wind turbine manufacturers and wind farm operators

If you are a wind farm operator losing output every winter because of blade icing — this project developed acoustic wave devices that detect ice formation and remove it automatically without heating elements or chemical sprays. The technology was validated with proof of concept devices and tested in ice wind tunnel facilities across a consortium of 9 partners in 5 countries. This could reduce downtime and eliminate the environmental cost of de-icing chemicals.

Aerospace and Aviation

enterprise

Target: Aircraft component manufacturers and MRO providers

If you are an aircraft manufacturer or maintenance provider dealing with the weight, cost, and environmental impact of current de-icing systems — this project built surface acoustic wave devices that combine ice detection and removal in a single micron-scale electrode layer. The technology was designed for integration on industrially relevant substrates and validated through patent-worthy results. It could replace heavier electrothermal or pneumatic boot systems.

Household Appliances and Refrigeration

mid-size

Target: Refrigerator, freezer, and HVAC equipment manufacturers

If you are a home appliance manufacturer spending on defrost cycles that waste energy and degrade food quality — this project created acoustic de-icing devices that work on any material and geometry. The consortium included 2 SMEs tasked specifically with future technology transfer to household appliance makers. A low-energy acoustic defrost system could differentiate your product line on efficiency ratings.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this technology cost compared to current de-icing methods?

The project data does not include specific cost figures. However, the objective explicitly targets "low-energy-consuming removal" and aims to overcome "costly" existing methods. Surface acoustic wave transducers use micron-size electrodes, which suggests lower material costs than bulky heating systems, but commercial pricing would depend on scale-up.

Can this scale to large industrial surfaces like full turbine blades or aircraft wings?

Yes, large-area integration was a core research goal. The project specifically addressed "integration of acoustic transducers on large areas" and developed surface engineering solutions to stack micron-size interdigitated electrodes with layers for efficient wave propagation. Proof of concept devices were built for aeronautic and wind power applications.

What is the intellectual property situation?

The consortium filed patent application(s) as a formal deliverable, covering various project results and likely the whole final technology. The patent strategy was designed to ensure protection and future transfer to interested users. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the coordinator, CSIC in Spain.

Has this been tested in realistic icing conditions?

Yes. The project modified ice wind tunnels and other icing facilities specifically for testing the acoustic devices. These included ice adhesion testers, freezing delay setups, and observation windows for optical and spectroscopic monitoring. This is real-conditions testing, not just lab bench work.

How long until this could be deployed commercially?

The project ran from 2020 to 2025 under an FET Open call, which targets high-risk early-stage research. With proof of concept devices demonstrated and patents filed, the technology is past the lab stage but would likely need 3-5 more years of engineering development and certification before commercial deployment, especially in regulated sectors like aviation.

Does it work on different materials and shapes?

The objective states the technology works on "any material and geometry." The team developed surface engineering solutions for integration on industrially relevant substrates, meaning metals, composites, and other real-world surfaces — not just idealized lab samples.

Who was involved in building and testing this?

A consortium of 9 partners across 5 countries (Austria, Germany, Spain, Finland, Poland), including 4 research organizations, 3 universities, and 2 SMEs with first-hand icing experience. The SMEs were specifically responsible for testing and future technology transfer to EU industry players.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium of 9 partners from 5 countries is research-heavy: 4 research organizations and 3 universities handle the science, while 2 SMEs with direct icing industry experience bridge the gap to commercial application. The coordinator is CSIC, Spain's national research council — a credible anchor institution. With only 22% industry ratio, the project leans academic, which is typical for FET Open funding that tackles high-risk frontiers. The 2 SMEs were specifically tasked with testing and future technology transfer to key EU players in aeronautics, renewable energy, and household appliances, plus an Advisory Board of relevant companies contributed to benchmarking. For a business looking to license or co-develop, the SME partners and Advisory Board members are the most relevant entry points.

AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICASCoordinator · ES
UNIVERSIDAD DE ZARAGOZAthirdparty · ES
VILLINGER GMBHparticipant · AT
TAMPEREEN KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SRparticipant · FI
LEIBNIZ INSTITUT FUR FESTKORPER UND WERKSTOFFORSCHUNG DRESDEN EVparticipant · DE
ENEROCEAN SLparticipant · ES
FUNDACJA PARTNERSTWA TECHNOLOGICZNEGO TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSparticipant · PL
INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE TECNICA AEROESPACIAL ESTEBAN TERRADASparticipant · ES
UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLAthirdparty · ES

How to reach the team

Coordinator is CSIC (Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas) in Spain. SciTransfer can locate the project coordinator and arrange an introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing this acoustic de-icing technology for your products? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the research team and help structure the conversation. Contact us for a one-page technology brief.

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