Swiss startup Turn2Sun has developed a PV mounting construction with end-of-life wind turbine blades. It positioned the construction at an altitude of two,500 meters within the Grisons area of Switzerland, with 16 bifacial 430 W photo voltaic modules.
Swiss startup Turn2Sun Renewables, a subsidiary of engineering consulting group Planair, has developed a PV mounting construction made from end-of-life wind generators. The “Blade2Sun” answer makes use of reused blades to help a steel construction that helps bifacial PV modules, which doesn’t require a typical mounting construction with a metallic beam.
“The variety of modules that may be mounted on a blade relies on numerous parameters, such because the size of the blade, the lateral reinforcement, and the native climate circumstances, particularly wind and snow ,” mentioned Noé Tallon, mission chief for Planair. pv journal.
The corporate put in a prototype at a 2,500-meter altitude website within the Grisons area of Switzerland. It options 9 bifacial 430 W photo voltaic modules on one blade and one other seven panels on the opposite blade, in three rows in a panorama place.
“There aren’t any lateral reinforcements, as a result of the pilot makes use of solely customary PV-mounting rails which can be commercially obtainable,” Tallon mentioned. “Subsequent iterations of the prototype will use reinforcements to achieve a wider size and due to this fact improve the variety of parallel modules on a blade.”
The wind turbine blades of the pilot set up are 8.4 meters lengthy and weigh 420 kg every. They’re positioned on a 5-meter excessive help construction. Tallon mentioned Turn2Sun goals to put in photo voltaic mounting buildings as shut as potential to repowered wind parks, to cut back transportation prices and the general carbon footprint.
“The principle benefit of this answer is the usage of used wind turbine blades with a uncooked price that’s negligible and even destructive, which makes it extra aggressive in comparison with buildings that heavy steel that’s usually used for prime PV installations and makes for a major a part of the worldwide price,” mentioned Tallon.
The corporate says it’s growing partnerships with a number of world gamers to supply the Blade2Sun answer in nations exterior of Switzerland. Purposes reportedly embody carparks, water reservoirs, agrivoltaics installations, and roadside arrays.
Picture: Turn2Sun
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