The designer and developer of a specialist aircraft to transport turbine blades to site has partnered with three aerospace players.
Colorado-based Radia, which is behind the WindRunner concept, has begun working with Aernova, Leonardo and AFuzion.
The partnership agreements are the latest step forward for WindRunner, an aircraft designed for to fly large turbine blades – up to 105 metres in length, longer than a football pitch – directly to wind farm sites, landing on semi-prepared dirt runways as short as 1800 metres.
It will overcome logistical barriers that today prevent the expansion of onshore wind energy.
Wind turbines become more effective and efficient the larger they are but long turbine blades are extremely difficult and expensive to move by ground transport because literal roadblocks – bridges, tunnels and road curves – get in the way.
Aernnova will partner with Radia on the development of the aircraft’s wing and engine pylons, Leonardo will work on the fuselage and AFuzion will provide safety and certification consulting.
WindRunner will fly over roadblocks, “enabling the deployment of the largest, most efficient onshore wind turbines today and the even larger ones of the future – what Radia calls GigaWind”.
The result will be widespread availability of consistent, lowest-cost clean energy in more locations and at industrial scale for the grid, green fuel production including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and commercial power users such as data centres and hyperscalers.
“WindRunner is an opportunity for the aerospace industry to have a decisive impact on climate change, diversify into the energy industry and seize an enormous market opportunity,” said Radia chief executive Mark Lundstrom.
“We are extremely pleased and excited that Aernnova, Leonardo and AFuzion – three companies at the forefront of aerospace design, development, and engineering – have chosen to partner with us on this critically important project.”
Aernnova chief executive Ricardo Chocarro said: “Based on my previous experience in this sector of the wind turbine industry, I can affirm the importance of the solution that WindRunner provides.
“The agreement with Radia for the development of the WindRunner project positions us in the wing and engine pylon design and manufacturing support, recognizing our expertise for the design and development of this ambitious project.”
Leonardo Aerostructures Division managing director Stefano Bortoli said: “Leonardo has a deep experience in the energy sector with its technologies in aviation, including wind farms.
“Therefore, it gives us great pleasure to support this initiative with our established aerostructure engineering know-how and capabilities.”
AFuzion chief executive Vance Hilderman added: “AFuzion is eager to bring our capabilities to bear to support WindRunner’s progress from design all the way through to deployment.”