UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center was awarded $2.8 million to develop and manufacture wind turbine blade molds using their 3D printing capabilities. The grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will help accelerate the development of wind turbine blades and reduce the cost of their fabrication.
Senators Susan Collins and Angus King hailed the investment in “cutting-edge research that helps to support our forest products industry, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen our clean energy economy.”
UMaine has the largest polymer 3D printer in the world, and the Advanced Structures and Composites Center’s expertise in additive manufacturing will accelerate wind blade development.