The United Kingdom’s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has announced a partnership with Danish company Bladena, a wind turbine blade engineering specialist, to test a new reinforcement technology designed to extend the lifespan of offshore turbines. The initiative addresses the growing challenge of ageing first-generation offshore wind farms, many of which are approaching the end of their planned operational lives.
Unprecedented testing on an 88-metre blade
The tests will be conducted on an 88-metre blade at ORE Catapult’s National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth. The programme will include full-scale torsional load testing, a first for the British centre and reportedly an industry-first. These tests aim to replicate the twisting forces experienced at sea and evaluate the performance of Bladena’s reinforcement system under real conditions.
ORE Catapult engineers are developing a bespoke test methodology. The goal is to analyse in detail how the reinforcement impacts the structural response of the blade, with the potential to provide data that could benefit the wider industry. According to the organisations involved, the findings may help enhance turbine reliability and reduce lifecycle operational costs.
A response to fatigue in composite materials
The testing campaign builds on research conducted by Bladena in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the Danish Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP). Studies revealed that even minor torsional loads can accelerate fatigue in composite materials and adhesive joints, making reinforcement strategies critical.
The technology being tested could offer significant advantages to operators facing high maintenance costs and component replacement issues. Preparations for testing are underway, with the launch scheduled for January 2026. Technical details of the reinforcement system are expected to be released early next year.
An industrial strategy to address offshore infrastructure fatigue
Bladena, a subsidiary of RES Group, stated that the testing marks a key step in optimising the durability of offshore infrastructure. Chief Technical Officer Find Mølholt Jensen said reinforced blades result in both lower costs and increased output by improving component resistance to mechanical stress.
For ORE Catapult, this collaboration supports the development of technical solutions tailored to adapt existing infrastructure to growing performance and profitability demands. As the global market moves toward accelerated offshore expansion, extending turbine lifespan represents a key industrial and financial challenge.
