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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.

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Flexens and Lhyfe have formed a partnership for the development and construction of an integrated energy island solution enabling large-scale offshore wind and green hydrogen production.

As part of its Q2 2023 earnings, TPI Composites reports an amended supply agreement with GE including new blade production lines in Mexico.

The Denmark company details a CO₂-neutral transformation technology to make 100% recyclable wind blades, plans to build six recycling facilities.

According to preliminary figures for H1 2023, the Carbon Fiber business unit saw a 28.9% decline in sales, balanced by Graphite Solutions, Process Technology and Composite Solutions segments’ better-than-expected earnings. 

Seven-megawatt wind turbine variant has reached more than 4.5 gigawatts in sales globally since its launch, and is installed in six European wind farms.

Joint efforts combine years of expertise in the manufacture of wind turbine blades, composite processing and automation to scale up operations.

A patented fusion technology and proprietary X weave design enhance the light weight, strength and reliability of the Aeris and Aeris X materials, which make their first debut on Ocean Radio’s Glide AA-Series sports wing.

Researcher consider strategies like policy regulation and recycling technology development to mitigate the impact of end-of-life wind blades.

Netherlands-based startup Kitepower’s Falcon airborne wind energy (AWE) system deploys a fiberglass-intensive kite to generate wind energy with a low ground footprint.

The upward trend in European offshore wind installations continues with a signed conditional order agreement for EnBW’s 2025 900 MW wind project.