Philip Totaro / Founder & CEO / Totaro & Associates
Philip Totaro
The mid to late 1990’s were a formative time for wind energy technology. New innovations were being developed and tested at a pace which would be unheard of by today’s standards. Every 6 to 9 months a new technical solution for efficiency enhancement or load mitigation could be developed, bench tested and begin a field test. New technology introduction would happen in as little as a few years after field testing, validation, certification and product incorporation.
Many of the innovations which were developed back then were followed up by a patent to protect the exclusive rights on that technology. But now that the life-cycle of many of those pioneering patents are coming to an end, what does it mean for the wider industry now that everyone can freely use those technologies?
Serrated trailing edge
Serrated trailing edges can reduce noise by 2 to 4 dB
With the ability to reduce noise by 2 to 4 dB, this technology is highly prized by multiple OEMs as well as wind park owners and ISPs for retrofit upgrades on existing platforms.
Concrete foundation
Even with the subsequent introduction of the reinforcement cage, this well used technology is now freely available.
Energy output controls
This well-known technology for power ramp down at the cut-out wind speed has already been widely used even before it went off-patent last year. Now companies have an opportunity to gain some extra power in high winds.
The flexible trailing edge could fly this year.
Flexible trailing edge
While it is stunning to think that this technology has not even seen commercial use during the 20 years of the patent life-cycle, a passive flexible trailing edge or a similar technology for passive flaps is likely to see some preliminary trials in 2017 as companies look for extra AEP.
High temperature superconducting generators
By 2025 we could see commercial use of third generation HTS technology.
First generation HTS technology is now coming off patent as second generation technology is being put through some mid-stage developmental work. By 2025 we will likely see commercial use of third generation HTS technology.
In the coming years, even more lucrative technologies will become available for public domain use including:
- Power Output and Curtailment Controls based on Grid Voltage
- Hot Air Blowing System inside Blade for Ice Protection
- Blade Pre-bend
- Individual Blade Pitch Control with Blade Sensor Input
- Blade Vibration Monitoring / Pitch Control
- Using LIDAR for Power Curve Validation Testing
Get more on off-patent technologies, a list of free-use technologies due to prematurely abandoned IP assets, as well as the technology / IP acquisitions or in-licensing list in our latest Global Wind Innovation Trends Report at http://www.totaro-associates.com/research. Totaro & Associates continues to bring you Innovative Solutions Enabled by Intelligence.
Filed Under: News
