The Airluminum project, which will receive an investment of €800,000, is supported by European Funds and the Ministry of Science and Innovation, specifically by the CDTI, an agency attached to the Ministry. The project is scheduled to be completed in August 2023.
Spanish technology at the service of distributed energy
Norvento Enerxia's research area focuses on developing products and services for distributed energy. The Spanish company designs and manufactures its own technologies, including medium-power wind turbines, which aim to promote decentralized energy generation. Specifically, the Airluminum project seeks to optimize wind turbine manufacturing to facilitate access to wind energy and reduce its costs.
The research and development of the project will be divided into four phases: the first focused on design and characterization, followed by a second phase dedicated to the development of subsystems for manufacturing aluminum stators. The final phase, further divided into two stages, will focus on the design and analysis of the prototype and on the testing and validation that will take place at the company's test bench in Lugo. The project will culminate in the construction of an experimental prototype and an in-depth analysis of its performance, including various electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical tests. Simulations will also be performed using different control algorithms.
Weight and cost reduction: replacing copper with aluminum
Permanent magnet generators improve the efficiency of wind power projects and are the answer for turbine manufacturers seeking a drivetrain that offers greater availability and a simplified grid connection, protecting the generator from any type of disturbance.
With the implementation of this plan, which will involve using aluminum instead of copper in certain components, Norvento Enerxía will achieve high torque with sizes and weights suitable for integration into the wind turbine nacelle, while simultaneously achieving high-efficiency electromechanical conversion at low speeds.
Replacing one material with another offers several advantages, including a 70% reduction in the wind turbine's weight due to the material's density. This results in a 63% weight reduction in the windings, translating into a 75% cost saving due to the price difference between the two materials for comparable efficiency.
Proprietary technology at the service of the energy sector
Norvento Enerxía has been committed to innovation since its founding, enabling it to offer cutting-edge resources, knowledge, and technology. Airluminum presents an innovative approach based on fundamental pillars of Norvento Enerxía's philosophy: sustainability, innovation, quality, and design.
The company is using its experience to face the challenges of the future of the 100% renewable energy sector, with the aim of continuing to offer the best solutions for its customers.
“At Norvento Enerxía, we put our experience at the service of the challenges facing the energy sector. This R&D project aims to continue offering the best solutions to promote sustainable distributed generation. Furthermore, we seek to help small utilities and public entities looking to electrify isolated areas through sustainable business models, as well as to promote the replacement of conventional fuels with wind power solutions in both off-grid systems and those connected to the grid but with low service quality, high prices, and frequent outages,” stated Adrián Capelán Presedo, Deputy Director of Technology at Norvento Enerxía.
