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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.

The commitment outlines strengthening offshore wind and green hydrogen supply chains via clean, innovative technologies to meet ambitious carbon neutrality goals and promote and foster sustainable growth.

As biomimetic design continues to inform composites manufacturing, technologies like 3D printing, tailored fiber placement, braiding and filament winding prove strong candidates for making these structures a reality.

The Global Wind Energy Council and Global Wind Organisation report that more workers are needed to deliver offshore wind installations between 2020-2024.

Total and Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG) partner to develop five large floating offshore wind projects starting construction in 2023.

All wind turbines for the 2,640-MW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind commercial project are expected to be installed by 2026.

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) also reports that the U.S. wind energy pipeline has grown to an expected 46.4 gigawatts of wind energy.

GE’s most powerful onshore wind turbine available, features two-piece carbon fiber blade for flexible logistic solutions, increases annual energy production by 11%.

Gerster TechTex’s gussets/corner reinforcements and fillers are intended to reinforce the corners of composite parts in automotive, wind and sports industries.

Run by consortium partners EDF Renewables, Enbridge and GE Renewable Energy, the offshore wind farm project will be comprised of 80 wind turbines to be installed by 2022.

Leading Tier 1 Supplier of composites increases global renewable power usage to 75% toward 30% reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.