This article was extracted from the August issue of the Sandia Wind Research Newsletter and published with permission.
This equipment and others will be used to test composites.
Sandia Wind Department technical staff members Josh Paquette and Brian Naughton attended the inaugural members meeting for the newly formed Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) in Knoxville, Tenn. in June. A few hundred attendees from the composites industry, academic institutions, and government agencies gathered to learn about opportunities to participate in the newest institute to join the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, established through the Revitalize American Manufacturing Act.
The program began with a signing ceremony between the DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Danielson, IACMI CEO Craig Blue, and University of Tennessee Executive Vice President David Millhorn. Following were a series of presentations on the organizational structure and goals of the IACMI. The Five Year Technical Goals for IACMI include:
- 25% lower cost for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP)
- 50% reduction in CFRP embodied energy
- 80% composite recyclability into useful products
These goals will be achieved through the integrated research and development work conducted in five technology areas: Wind Turbines, Vehicles, Compressed Gas Storage, Design Modeling & Simulation, and Composite Materials & Process. Each technology area is headed by a director that will help coordinate research within and between technology areas to ensure the work meets the overall institute goals.
Sandia National Laboratories looks forward to bringing their 25 plus years of experience in wind turbine composites and manufacturing to the institute to work with previous and new industry and academic partners to realize the Institute’s goals and enhance the competitiveness of US composites manufacturing.
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