Nordex Validates Enhanced Rotor Blade Performance and Lightning Protection Through Comprehensive IEC 61400 Testing

Nordex Validates Enhanced Rotor Blade Performance and Lightning Protection Through Comprehensive IEC 61400 Testing

(IN BRIEF) Nordex Group has completed an extensive 11-month testing program for a rotor blade of its N175/6.X wind turbine model. The tests, conducted at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES, involved static load and fatigue tests that validated simulation models, confirming that parameters such as deflections, strains, and natural frequencies remain within acceptable limits. In parallel, a rotor blade tip featuring an integrated anti-icing system was subjected to stringent lightning tests at Polytech’s accredited laboratory in Denmark, where it successfully met high-voltage and high-current test standards as specified by IEC 61400-24. These tests underscore Nordex’s commitment to not only meeting but exceeding industry standards to ensure robust, high-maturity products that optimize power utilization and extend service life, while minimizing lightning damage risks.

(PRESS RELEASE) HAMBURG, 7-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — To guarantee optimal performance and longevity of wind turbines, the international standard IEC 61400 establishes rigorous technical requirements for turbine design, including the structural integrity of rotor blades as specified in IEC 61400-23. An independent certification body must verify that wind turbines meet these standards—a critical step for the approval and operation of new turbine models.

Over the past eleven months, the Nordex Group has rigorously tested a rotor blade from its N175/6.X model on an accredited test rig at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES in Bremerhaven. This extensive testing program, which included both static load and fatigue assessments, aimed to confirm the real-world performance of the rotor blade against previously simulated service life predictions. Key parameters such as natural frequencies, damping characteristics, and the electrical resistance values of the integrated lightning protection system were measured on one of the inaugural rotor blades manufactured at Nordex’s Research and Development Centre in Rostock. The results have consistently shown that critical parameters like deflections, strains, and natural frequencies remain well within permissible tolerances.

In a further demonstration of Nordex’s commitment to quality, a 15-meter-long rotor blade tip from the N175/6.X, equipped with an integrated anti-icing system, underwent comprehensive lightning testing in accordance with IEC 61400-24 at Polytech’s accredited lightning laboratory in Denmark. The blade tip successfully passed both high-voltage impact and high-current tests, thereby reaffirming the robustness of Nordex’s lightning protection system.

Andreas Christensen, Manager of Polytech’s test center, commented, “It is crucial to test for lightning under conditions that closely mimic real-life scenarios. We are proud to support Nordex Group and a diverse range of customers from the wind industry with our accredited testing facilities, enabling them to obtain well-documented results for certification and R&D progress.”

Hendrik Klein, Head of Blade Materials, Design and Test at the Nordex Group, added, “At Nordex, we recognize the critical importance of industry standards in defining design requirements and ensuring compliance. As rotor blades become longer and operate at higher altitudes, using the right materials and design is essential not only for maximizing wind power utilization but also for achieving the planned service life and minimizing the risk of lightning damage. We even exceed the IEC standard testing requirements to drive higher product maturity, making these test results extremely valuable for us as a manufacturer.”

About the Nordex Group
The Group has installed around 57 GW of wind power capacity in over 40 markets in its corporate history and generated consolidated sales of around EUR 7.3 billion in 2024. The Company currently has more than 10,400 employees with a manufacturing network that includes factories in Germany, Spain, Brazil, India, USA and Mexico. Its product portfolio is focused on onshore turbines in the 4 to 6 MW+ classes which are designed to meet the market requirements of countries with limited available space and regions with constrained grid capacity.

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SOURCE: Nordex SE