DOE Research Project Yields New Low-Speed Wind Turbine Blade

November 15, 2006

Photo of two men examining the edge of a turbine blade, which both curves away from them and curves up slightly from the table it rests on.

Knight & Carver technicians examine the new "STAR" wind turbine blade.
Credit: Knight & Carver Wind Blade Division

Knight & Carver has produced the first in a series of wind turbine blades that, according to the company, "ranks among the industry's most innovative advances in wind energy production." Called the "STAR," for "Sweep Twist Adaptive Rotor," the 90-foot blade is curved to relieve pressure on both the blade and the turbine and features a gently curving tip to capture low-speed winds. Developed with the help of DOE's Sandia National Laboratories as part of a DOE research project, the STAR blade is designed to take maximum advantage of all wind speeds. The new blade was manufactured at Knight & Carver's blade division in San Diego, California, in early November, and will undergo static testing in December. See the Knight & Carver press release.