AMD’s Government funded Wind farm innovation project for UK sustainability targets moves into its next phase

AMD’s radar mitigation project funded through DASA and the BEIS Net Zero Innovation Portfolio has moved into an exciting next step with early successes integrating and layering its materials within various wind farm turbine blade composites.

The conflict between wind farms location and civilian and defence radar systems is a challenge that the UK must overcome to meet its commitment to wind energy growth and net-zero targets. DASA funding is enabling the development and testing of AMD’s unique nanotechnology, which when integrated into a turbine’s blade structure, will reduce a wind farm’s interference with such radar systems.

AMD is developing advanced composite materials, incorporating novel low-cost, nano-scale Radar Absorbing Material (nRAM) to be included in the manufacturing stage. Collaboration with materials suppliers will ensure that RF absorption capability is integrated into the base materials, thereby reducing cost and minimising impact on the manufacturing process.

AMD’s nanotechnology is also designed to enable additional functionality to be incorporated into wind farm structures, including embedded sensors that can monitor the turbine’s structural health, with the aim of increasing the sustainability and longevity of the blades whilst decreasing servicing costs.

John Lee, Chief Executive Officer of AMD, says, "The AMD mission is to address 'Global Challenges' and in the need to address the UK’s target for sustainable independent energy sources, this is exactly the kind of project that we continue to pursue."

13-May-2022