Till now, you must have heard about the phenomenal use of aluminium in the solar energy sector. It is widely used in photovoltaics and solar panel frames. But what about the wind energy sector? The truth is wind turbines also rely on aluminium.
These turbines need to be high-strength and lightweight. Both needs can be met by aluminium. While steel is used in turbines, aluminium is a key material in making critical components such as systems, the tower platform, the cooling system, and more.
Why is aluminium used in wind turbines? Aluminium is not the only material used in making wind turbines. Wood, steel, and copper wire are used predominantly. Despite competition from equally suitable materials, aluminium is coming into the limelight. Why? Because of the properties that make it easy to work with aluminium. Here are four prime reasons for choosing aluminium in wind turbines:
- Aluminium has more excellent resistance to corrosion than any other metal; therefore, it has a higher tolerance to maritime environments. Hence it is a top choice for offshore windmills where waves, humidity, salty sea air and storms can corrode the turbines.
- Due to the above property, the turbines do not need extra surgical treatment.
- Aluminium can be recycled umpteen times and has a high scrap value.
- Usually, copper is an unparalleled choice when it comes to wiring. However, in the case of wind turbines, experts are now looking at an alternative metal: aluminium. It is cheaper than copper. Therefore it reduces the overall cost of the project. Moreover, aluminium is approximately 70% lighter in weight than copper. Naturally, electrical cables made from aluminium are lightweight and easier to install.
Future of aluminium in the wind energy sector:
Governments and unions worldwide strive to reduce carbon footprints and achieve sustainability goals. The European Union is not an exception. By 2030, it aims to increase wind energy capacity by five times. How does that impact the future of aluminium, you ask?
An increase in wind energy means more construction of wind turbines. One of the vital raw materials here is aluminium. Since the metal is corrosion-resistant, it can be used in offshore windmills. The use of aluminium in wind turbines can be divided into the following sections:
- Tower external: Aluminium is used in stairs, walkways, external platforms and railings.
- Tower internal: For the tower internals, aluminium is used for cable mounting systems, lift systems, fall protection, etc.
- Generator: It is the third section, and here aluminium is used to produce rotor components, component mounting systems, etc.
CS Wind, a global manufacturer of towers for wind turbine generators, extensively uses aluminium in Vietnam's wind power projects, where the offshore wind towers stand 100 meters tall. Per a report published in 2019 by World Economic Forum's 2019 Energy Transition Index, China, the UK and Germany were listed as the highest-ranking wind power nations globally.
As these nations maintain their positions and others try to join the race, offshore windmills and the demand for aluminium in the wind power energy sector will continue to grow. Norsko Hydro is vital in promoting the growth of aluminium and its extrusions in the wind power sector.
Conclusion:
The solar power sector has largely incorporated aluminium compared to the wind power sector. But the latter will soon catch up as aluminium continues to cement its place in the renewable energy sector.
Experts opine that solar power uses smaller extruded materials for brackets and solar cell frames, whereas wind energy demands large and complex aluminium profiles that are hard to make.
Nevertheless, the potential of aluminium in wind farms cannot be dismissed. It will be interesting to see how countries will incorporate lightweight metal and its alloys into their wind power projects in the future.
