Korea moves closer to domestic large-scale wind turbine development – KIER succeeds in localizing design platform and integrated infrastructure for wind blades
Automated design technology for large wind turbine blades (10MW+) and establishment of end-to-end integrated research infrastructure supporting blade design, manufacturing, and testing
image: Full-Cycle Research Infrastructure for Wind Turbine Blades 1
Credit: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH(KIER)
The Wind Energy Research Department at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), led by Director Cheol Yoo, has developed a design platform and research-scale infrastructure to support the development of large wind turbine blades using in-house technology. The team also designed a 12MW-class blade, which was verified by an international classification society — the first such case in Korea.
According to the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand announced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, renewable energy generation capacity is expected to increase fourfold by 2038 compared to 2024, with wind power accounting for 30% of that capacity.
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* In the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, the renewable energy generation capacity is set to grow from 30 GW in 2024 to 121.9 GW by 2038, with wind power contributing 40.7 GW. |
To achieve this goal, there is a growing need in Korea for wind turbines with higher output capacity than existing models. Turbines in the 10MW class and above are seen as a promising option for expanding renewable energy generation, as they can offer improved economic efficiency and operational advantages per installation area compared to the 5MW-class turbines that are predominantly used in the Korean market.
However, the localization rate of core components for wind power in Korea remains at approximately 34%. In particular, for turbines over 10MW—which place high demands on blade design and manufacturing—domestic capabilities are still limited, leading to continued reliance on imports.
To address this issue, researchers at KIER developed a design platform for large-scale wind turbine blades (KIER-BladeFORGE).
Blade design requires integration of aerodynamic and structural factors. In typical sequential approaches, aerodynamic optimization is followed by structural design, but iterative shape changes can lead to structural rework and inefficiencies.
Recently, the research team developed an integrated aero-structural design platform by applying advanced optimization algorithms and AI techniques. The system simultaneously incorporates aerodynamic and structural variables, therefore, improved modeling fidelity and efficiencies and finally shorten development time.
Incorporating the automatic blade design workflow to design platform, the KIER team has reduced optimization time by over 50% compared to the conventional manual process, which typically takes three to four weeks. The platform has also received Approval in Principle (AIP) from the Korean Register (KR), an internationally recognized classification society, acknowledging its technical feasibility and engineering soundness.
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* Approval in Principle (AIP): In the shipbuilding, offshore, and industrial plant sectors, AIP refers to the preliminary approval granted for conceptual designs that have not yet been manufactured. It involves verifying whether new technologies, conceptual designs, procedures, or programs meet an appropriate level of reliability and feasibility. This is done through the application of relevant codes, standards, rules, and specifications, as well as through engineering analysis and risk assessment |
Also, KIER has established Korea’s first integrated research facility dedicated to blade design, fabrication, and structural testing. The facility includes a design and analysis lab, wind tunnel, manufacturing area, and structural test lab, enabling performance evaluation using scaled blade models.
Building on this infrastructure, the research team designed a 107-meter-long, 12MW-class wind turbine blade. It is the first blade over 10MW developed with Korean technology to receive design verification from DNV—a leading international classification society—through its Denmark office, demonstrating compliance with global standards and validating its design reliability and technological competitiveness.
The infrastructure established at KIER’s Jeju Global Research Center is currently being utilized for collaborative research with external organizations. Once detailed regulations and operational protocols are in place, it will also support the testing of models from relevant companies and institutions.
Dr. Cheol Yoo, head of the research team, stated, “This achievement is highly meaningful, as it represents the establishment of a fully integrated research infrastructure—encompassing design, manufacturing, and testing—based on proprietary technology, along with the successful international certification of an large wind turbine blade developed through this platform.” He added, “We will continue to advance and commercialize this technology to enhance the global competitiveness of Korea’s wind power industry.”
This research was carried out with support from the Korea Institute of Energy Research’s Basic Research Program.