Erosion caused by the continuous impact of raindrops significantly reduces aerodynamic efficiency and blade lifespan, resulting in substantial maintenance costs and performance losses. Until now, available solutions have relied on experimental testing, costly processes, and limited ability to predict the actual progression of damage.
The project is part of the Valencian Community's Quantum Communication Plan, in which four Valencian universities participate, and in which CEU-UCH proposes an innovative approach that integrates advanced mathematical models and quantum algorithms to optimize the simulation of complex processes.
In this sense, it is worth noting that through this combination, the initiative manages to represent more faithfully the viscoelastic and multilayer properties of the materials that make up the blades, thus offering a more robust, accurate and adaptable predictive model.
“Our goal is to bring quantum computing closer to the real-world challenges of industry. Thanks to this technology, we can simulate processes with much greater precision that were previously too complex or expensive to reproduce. In this case, we have managed to predict how erosion caused by rain affects the performance of wind turbine blades, something fundamental for improving their design and extending their lifespan,” explained Antonio Falcó, coordinator and principal investigator of the project.
The development of this hybrid digital twin will allow for anticipating the relationship between blade deterioration and wind turbine performance loss, facilitating strategic decision-making in the design, operation, and maintenance of wind energy infrastructure. Furthermore, the methodology created by QUANTWIN could be applied in the future to other industrial sectors where damage prediction is key to improving the efficiency and sustainability of systems.
Quantum research with a Valencian stamp
This project is one of eleven that make up the Quantum Communication Plan, led by four prestigious universities: the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), the University of Valencia (UV), the University of Alicante (UA), and the CEU Cardenal Herrera University (CEU-UCH). Together, these initiatives encompass a wide range of research and development lines with the aim of promoting quantum technology and its applications in strategic areas such as telecommunications and cybersecurity, thus consolidating the Valencian Community as a leader in technological innovation at both the national and international levels.
Miguel Ángel García, a researcher on the project, also highlighted that “working alongside university teams in the development of new predictive tools allows us to move towards more efficient management of wind turbines and reduce maintenance costs. Knowledge transfer between universities and industry is key to continued innovation in the wind energy sector.”.
With projects like QUANTWIN, CEU Cardenal Herrera University reaffirms its role as a driver of technological and scientific innovation, promoting solutions that contribute to the progress of society and the competitiveness of industry.
About the Valencian Plan for Quantum Communication
The Complementary Plan for Quantum Communications is part of the EU Resilience Plan and has a total budget of €76 million. This plan aims to promote research and development in the field of quantum communications, a key technology for the future of telecommunications.
The Valencian Community is one of the communities that have participated in this project since 2022, along with Castile and León, Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia and the Community of Madrid, as well as the Higher Council for Scientific Research.
In the case of the Valencian Community, the funding for this plan comes mostly from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, which provides 65% of the funds, equivalent to €1,169,671.10, while the remaining 35%, some €629,822.90, is financed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Universities and Employment.
