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High-pressure gas storage vessels represent one of the largest and fastest-growing markets for advanced composites, particularly for filament-wound carbon fiber composites. Although they are used in self-contained breathing apparatuses and provide oxygen and gas storage on aerospace vehicles, the primary end markets are for storage of liquid propane gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen gas (H₂).

Filament winding is a specialized technique used in composite manufacturing, involving the precise and automated winding of continuous fibers onto a rotating mandrel or mold. This method allows for the creation of strong and seamless structures, optimizing the alignment and orientation of the fibers to meet specific design requirements. Filament winding is employed in producing cylindrical or conical composite parts, such as pipes, pressure vessels, and aerospace components, enabling engineers to tailor the strength, stiffness, and performance characteristics of the final product.

Processes in composites manufacturing encompass a diverse array of techniques employed to fabricate composite materials. These processes include methods like hand layup, where layers of resin and reinforcement materials are manually placed, and vacuum infusion, where a vacuum draws resin into a preform. Other techniques like compression molding, filament winding, and automated methods such as 3D printing are utilized to create intricate and specialized composite structures. Each process offers unique advantages in terms of precision, scalability, and efficiency, catering to diverse industry needs. As technology advances, newer methods are emerging, promising faster production cycles, reduced waste, and increased customization, driving the evolution of composite manufacturing towards more sophisticated and versatile methodologies.

The wind energy market has long been considered the world’s largest market, by volume, for glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites — and increasingly, carbon fiber composites — as larger turbines and longer wind blades are developed, requiring higher performance, lighter weight materials. The outer skins of wind and tidal turbine blades generally comprise infused, GFRP laminates sandwiching foam core. Inside the blade, rib-like shear webs bonded to spar caps reinforce the structure. Spar caps are often made from GFRP or, as blade lengths lengthen, pultruded carbon fiber for additional strength.

Should GE win sufficient order volume, GE anticipates a wind blade and nacelle facility for the Haliade-X, run by LM Wind Power and GE Vernova respectively.

The Chinese wind turbine manufacturer surpasses its 16-MW platform, optimizes wind farm construction costs for 1-GW wind farms.

The Belfast company’s first electric foiling EF-12 CTV watercraft prototype will undergo simulation and testing at Ørsted’s Barrow wind farm for the next 2 years.

Basin model tests verify feasibility of floating offshore wind platform’s use in a wide range of conditions.

Growth opportunities, tech innovations, risk trends and loss patterns for the global industry are highlighted.

RVmagnetics now enables the development of composite measurement and monitoring systems based on its passive sensor technology, to fit exact customer requirements.

Key report findings from the Business Network for Offshore Wind note that investments in U.S. market tripled in size to $9.8 billion, despite economic headwinds.

Vestas builds upon key partnership, leveraging LM Wind Power’s knowledge, capabilities and global footprint for the design and production of V172-7.2 MW wind turbine blades.

Wind Energy Technologies Office releases $28 million in funding for interested parties to address barriers to the deployment of wind energy onshore, offshore and distributed. 

The newly launched high-capacity factor SG 4.4-164 is specifically geared toward U.S. wind sites that are targeted to reach commercial operation in 2025.