Wind energy is a pollution-free and renewable energy source.
The single most important problem facing the wind energy market today is the cost of the energy produced. If rotor blades can be constructed economically to last for ten to thirty years without replacement, a large portion of the installation and maintenance costs would be eliminated. The principle focus of this research is the study of fiberglass composite wind turbine rotor blades operating in the field under accelerated fatigue conditions. The high altitude location in Montana enhances The first wind machine installed and ready for testing and data acquisition. The principal investigator of this grant is MSU Chemical Engineering professor Dr. John Mandell who has had years of fiberglass rotor consulting experience with the American wind energy community.