How Special Tapes Boost Wind Energy Production in India
With over 1.42 billion people, India has grown to become the most populous country in the world. Together with increased economic capacities, living standards and mobility, the need for electric power is rapidly growing in the area, making renewable energy sources more important than ever. India stands 4th globally in renewable energy installed capacity, 4th in wind power capacity, and 4th in solar power capacity (as per REN21 Renewables 2022 Global Status Report).
However, there is still significant growth potential for wind energy production in India and other Asian countries. In this article, we will take a closer look at how special tapes can help to improve manufacturing processes, quality, efficiency, and reduce costs in wind energy production in India.
Driven by the global switch to alternative energy sources and supported by large government programs, India has emerged as a leading player in the renewable energy sector. As per the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), India is committed to achieve about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
The country is making significant strides towards achieving its target with about 140 Gigawatts (GW) of solar power and 60 GW wind power capacity already installed as of end 2022 according to the annual report 2022/2023 published by the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Despite these impressive figures, there is still a lot of growth potential for renewable energy in India, especially in wind energy production. This growth is mainly driven by three factors:
- Government Incentives: Ambitious targets for renewable energy capacity expansion set by the Indian government and supported by large financial growth programs led to increased investment and support for the sector.
- Cost Reductions: New capacities, production technologies and improved efficiency helped to reduce the cost of wind energy production globally in recent years. This helps wind energy to become a more competitive option for renewable power generation.
- Increasing Demand: India’s fast-growing population and economic development drives the need for electricity. Together with a recent switch to more electric mobility in two-, three- and four-wheel vehicles, the demand for more electric power is also providing a tailwind for wind energy production.
As these drivers seem to persist, it is expected that the growth of wind energy production in India will be further propelled by advancements in technology and manufacturing, favorable government policies, and increased private sector investment in the coming years.
Now, let us highlight the role of special tapes in improving wind blade production efficiency and how they can turn the quality and durability of the blades. In general, adhesive tapes can be used to improve mold protection, bonding and masking in the manufacturing process.
In many cases, standard tapes that have not been specifically designed for wind blade manufacturing purposes are used in the manufacturing process. Switching to alternatives that have been created especially for wind turbine manufacturing can offer significant advantages over non-specific tapes in various aspects.
Currently, there is a trend towards epoxy-based resin used in the composite molding process by many Indian manufacturers. Here, PET (Polyesther) tapes like Saint-Gobain® P.762 outperform other solutions with its good initial tack and excellent bonding to low surface energy substrates. The combination of strong adhesion, temperature resistance and easy removability without residue helps to improve cycle times in blade manufacturing.
Other solutions like Saint-Gobain P3292 combine excellent thermal and chemical resistance, easy and clean removability with high temperature resistance for masking applications or to protect mold and tools.
Both tapes are specifically optimized for wind turbine composite molding application requirements and manufactured locally in India to meet regional demands with the goal to maximize manufacturing throughput and reduce the time needed to manufacture.
But how can these tapes help to streamline the manufacturing process? Their easy handling, strong adhesion and non-residue removability features allow for faster and cleaner processing. Their high temperature and stress resistance reliably protects molds and components, extending the lifetime of valuable equipment and reduce maintenance efforts to a minimum. They help avoid challenges with residue, save time and costs.
Due to many years of composite molding experience and deep manufacturing know-how, such specific tapes help to streamline production as less post treatments of the blades or equipment is needed.
These two examples show how tapes exclusively designed for wind blade manufacturing can help to improve output, quality and reduce time and costs. But how do you know which solutions fit your technology and application needs best? The good news is that regional tape experts can help identify ideal options. And, due to dedicated research and production capabilities in India, tapes can also be tailored to fit specific temperature, adhesion, mechanical or resin resistance needs to further improve manufacturing performance.
We have seen that renewable energy production is growing fast in India and other Asian countries with no slowdown in sight. This offers good opportunities for wind blade manufacturers and with the right tape solutions, improved quality, production performance, throughput and costs savings are at hand to foster the overall trend towards more renewable energy production.
Contact your tape expert to discover the tape that can be the wind of change in wind blade manufacturing and help to make the world a better home.