Future emerging technologies in the wind power sector: A European perspective

TLDR

The emerging wind technologies examined originate mainly from academia, a few start‑ups, and some larger industrial entities. The paper offers a European expert perspective on future wind‑energy technologies, assessing their potential, challenges, applications, readiness, and projected evolution. The review surveys a broad set of concepts—including airborne wind energy, offshore floating turbines, smart rotors, energy‑harvesting devices, tip‑mounted rotors, unconventional transmission, multi‑rotor turbines, alternative supports, modular HVDC generators, innovative blade manufacturing, diffuser‑augmented turbines, and small turbines—while also evaluating the role of advanced multiscale modelling and data availability. The review concludes that substantial research is needed to realize many of these technologies and that aligning fundamental and industrial research through targeted public and private funding is essential, as industrial progress may outpace basic research.

Abstract

This paper represents an expert view from Europe of future emerging technologies within the wind energy sector considering their potential, challenges, applications and technology readiness and how they might evolve in the coming years. These technologies were identified as originating primarily from the academic sector, some start-up companies and a few larger industrial entities. The following areas were considered: airborne wind energy, offshore floating concepts, smart rotors, wind-induced energy harvesting devices, blade tip-mounted rotors, unconventional power transmission systems, multi-rotor turbines, alternative support structures, modular high voltage direct current generators, innovative blade manufacturing techniques, diffuser-augmented turbines and small turbine technologies. The future role of advanced multiscale modelling and data availability is also considered. This expert review has highlighted that more research will be required to realise many of these emerging technologies. However, there is a need to identify synergies between fundamental and industrial research by correctly targeting public and private funding in these emerging technology areas as industrial development may outpace more fundamental research faster than anticipated.