Welcome to Upwind
UPWIND Final Publication (March 2011)
UpWind was a European project funded under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) that ran from 2006 to 2011. The project looked towards the wind power of tomorrow, more precisely towards the design of very large wind turbines (8-10MW), both onshore and offshore.
The challenges inherent to the creation of wind farms of several hundreds MW request the highest possible standards in design, complete understanding of external design conditions, the design of materials with extreme strength to mass ratios and advanced control and measuring systems geared towards the highest degree of reliability, and critically, reduced overall turbine mass.
The wind turbines of the future necessitate the re-evaluation of the turbine itself for its re-conception to cope with future challenges. The aim of the project was to develop the accurate, verified tools and component concepts the industry needs to design and manufacture this new type of turbine.
UpWind focused on design tools for the complete range of turbine components. It addressed the aerodynamic, aero-elastic, structural and material design of rotors. Critical analysis of drive train components was carried out in the search for breakthrough solutions.
The UpWind consortium, composed of 40 partners, brought together the most advanced European specialists of the wind industry. The findings of the project were disseminated through a series of workshops.