Vestas Strategic University Partnership
Bristol Composites Institute (BCI) and NCC are one of Vestas’ three global Strategic University Partners, and the only one in the UK.
The Strategic University Partnership brings together the academic excellence of BCI, the cutting-edge capabilities of NCC, and Vestas’ technology leadership as a global pioneer in sustainable energy solutions to accelerate innovation in wind energy and composites technology.
Composites are a critical enabling material for modern wind turbines, providing the lightweight performance and structural capability required for large-scale blades. However, meeting the scale of demand needed to achieve net zero targets, while addressing sustainability and end-of-life challenges for composite structures, remains a significant research and innovation challenge.
The partnership will deliver a multiyear programme of funded projects, bringing together expert collaborative teams to address specific challenges in wind energy and the use of advanced composite materials in turbine blades.
Active projects:
- BladeUpUKRI Prosperity Partnership revolutionising wind turbine blade design with machine learning and advanced computational methods for efficient, scalable production.
- SAMBAHorizon Europe funded project bringing together digital precision, smart automation, and sustainable impact to reshape how wind turbine blades are made.