The second half of a turbine’s service life is of growing technical and economic relevance, as operators seek to maintain reliability and cost-efficiency. Additive Manufacturing (AM) presents a technically viable and economically promising alternative to conventional spare parts sourcing—particularly for components made of steel, cast materials, or polymers. However, challenges remain, especially regarding the dynamic loading of safety-critical parts and the legal framework surrounding the reproduction of existing turbine components.
A case study of a 250 kg cast steel component illustrates both the technical feasibility and the current legal boundaries of AM applications in the context of aging wind turbine fleets.
Speaker: Thomas Müller, Production Engineer – Digital & Innovation, EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG