Self-Tilting Wind Rotor Blades
We4Ce, a Dutch rotor blade designer, has designed 10 rotor blade sets for the Dutch wind turbine startup TouchWind for testing on its floating TW6 turbine—a self-tilting, one-piece rotor design that breaks from conventional three-blade models.
Engineered to withstand wind speeds of up to 250 km/h—the highest wind class in wind industry standards—the future commercial version is expected to cost significantly less than traditional turbines while delivering higher energy yields.
Responsible for the blade design, We4Ce partnered with the Dutch mold specialist Kleizen to produce both the molds and blades.
TouchWind, backed by its main shareholder, Japan-based Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), contracted We4Ce as lead partner for the blades.
The delivery of the blades marks the next prototype phase of TouchWind’s innovative tilting, one-piece rotor wind turbine. Featuring a 6-m-diameter rotor designed for efficient energy capture, the 12-kW turbines will be tested onshore and offshore. The turbines will be placed close to one another to validate the high energy density previously demonstrated in wind tunnel tests. Currently being assembled in Eindhoven, the wind turbine will start testing in the summer.
