DTU starts construction of wind tunnel near Roskilde

The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the start of construction of a wind tunnel, in which wind turbine blades could be tested at wind speeds of up to 105 m/s (378 km/h).

DTU said Friday the tunnel is expected to be completed by May 2017. It will be possible to combine aerodynamic and noise measurements at the facility, to be located at DTU's Risoe Campus. The project comes to support DTU’s and Denmark’s wind energy research efforts.

The wind tunnel will use a gigantic fan with a diameter of 4.7 metres. The test section will be encapsulated in an anechoic space to avoid reflections and absorb noise.

“The ambition now is that the new wind tunnel will be the world’s best,” said Joy Mogensen, Mayor of the Municipality of Roskilde.

The wind industry accounted for 6.7% of Denmark’s total goods export volume in 2015, ranking it first among EU15 member states.

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