Technical Report Results of IEA Wind TCP "Definition of Best Practice for Testing Icephobic Surfaces"

Wind energy in Cold Climates needs to address various technical aspects in order to avoid lower energy production and liability issues, such as ice throw and noise. "Active" ice protection systems (mainly heating) for the rotor blades of the turbines were one of the first important technical steps to cope with icing phenomenon on surfaces. The use of so-called icephobic surfaces (referred to as “passive” ice protection in this report) appeared to be even more desirable, as the overall prevention of ice formations would solve many of the technical problems related to icing. However, the broad range of relevant icing conditions, the different icing scenarios the blade areas are facing at, and the harsh environmental conditions (UV, rain and particle erosion) combined with the required long-term performance of the material have so far prevented the integration of potential icephobic materials.