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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.

Suppliers, fabricators and OEMs across the composite wind blade supply chain ramp up existing technologies, develop better reclamation methods and design more recyclable wind blades.

TPI has manufactured wind blades for GE since 2008. New commitments will lead to the development of new blade types and potentially more production lines in 2023.

The White House announced a new goal of 15 GW floating offshore wind energy by 2035, and new R&D funding and programs.

Additional diameters build on the portfolio of resilient FRP pole structures for distribution and light pole customers.

Boston judge blocks sales of GE Halide-X offshore wind turbines, allows use in existing U.S. projects.

Under the signed agreement, Hyundai will localize assembly of Haliade-X turbines and generators, aiding in South Korea’s plans to bring online 12 GW of offshore wind by 2030.

Manufacturer combined speed and quality for composite wind turbine nacelles during the pandemic, producing 10 nacelles per week.

The Product Disposal Specifications aim to help industrialize wind blade recycling, detailing materials and components of Siemens Gamesa, Vestas and LM Wind Power blades.

Eight countries in the Baltic Sea region are to increase current 2.8-GW capacity to 19.6 GW by 2030 and enable cross-border cooperation to facilitate offshore wind expansion.

RWE’s Kaskasi offshore wind power project leads first commercial installation of eighty-one-meter B81 composite RecyclableBlades.