Protective Coatings Leader Hempel Brings Expertise to the Wind Industry
Renewable energy is becoming increasingly important in our lives. Each of the main types of renewable energy – solar, wind, water and others – have their own unique requirements. In the case of wind power, wind turbines have very specific coating needs, as the turbines need to be protected from harsh environments. As one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of protective coatings, Hempel offers corrosion protection to structures in some of the harshest conditions on the planet. Hempel’s protective coatings are used on approximately 50% of wind turbines across the globe. There’s more than the blades that need coatings though – Hempel provides coating solutions for the entire wind turbine, including the towers, blades, foundations, and nacelles.
Not surprisingly, durability is the single biggest requirement that customers are looking for in a coating, as windfarms are located in hard-to-access locations, often out at sea or in remote inland areas. “Taking a turbine out of action for repair is extremely costly,” David Heal, global head of renewable energy & performance OEM segments at Hempel noted. “Therefore, structures in the wind industry are coated to ensure protection against corrosion for the longest possible time. Depending on the environment, a wind turbine is expected to last 25 years – and the coating system should require little or no maintenance during that time. Discussions are now underway to increase this lifetime to 35 years for offshore installations.”