UDRI to research and design wind towers (Dayton)

The University of Dayton Research Institute has gotten another financial boost for alternative energy research.

UDRI said Wednesday it has been awarded $270,000 in Ohio Third Frontier funds for research to design and test structures and materials for composite wind-turbine towers. The tower — fiberglass reinforced resin monoliths — will stand as much as 65 feet taller than current steel towers. Researchers said putting larger turbines atop taller towers provides access to greater wind speeds, which improves operating performance and cost.

In a complementary program, UDRI researchers already are working on a U.S. Air Force advanced-materials contract to develop smaller composite wind turbines to generate electricity in areas of low-speed wind.

Read the full post in the Dayton Business Journal.