Researchers develop coating for quieter wind turbines

Based on an investigation into owls' silent flying, researchers have developed a prototype coating for wind turbine blades that could make them much quieter, the University of Cambridge said on Monday.

The new material could also allow the wind turbines to spin faster and produce more energy as they are now heavily braked in order to limit the noise.

The scientists used high resolution microscopy to examine owl feathers and developed a prototype material that mimics the intricate structure of an owl's wing. They tested it on a full-sized segment of a wind turbine blade. Wind tunnel tests showed a substantial reduction in noise without any noticeable impact on aerodynamics, according to the announcement. The next step is to test the surface on an operating wind turbine.

The coating could be used to reduce the noise made by other types of fan blades, such as those in planes or computers.

The material, developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge in collaboration with researchers at three US institutions, will be presented today at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) aeroacoustics conference in Dallas. The study was funded by the US National Science Foundation and the US Office of Naval Research.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!