Advances in Rotor Blades, Conference Day 1 | Tuesday, 25th August 2026
Focus Day, Exploring Geotechnics | Monday, 24th August 2026
Offshore Foundations, Conference Day 1 | Tuesday, 25th August 2026
Offshore Foundations, Conference Day 2 | Wednesday, 26th August 2026
Advances in Rotor Blades, Conference Day 1 | Tuesday, 25th August 2026
Advances in Rotor Blades, Conference Day 2 | Wednesday, 26th August 2026
9:00 - 9:00
Registration and Welcome Coffee
10:00 - 10:10
Opening Remarks by IQPC and the Conference Chair
Dr.-Ing. Alexander Krimmer -
Principal Engineer Composite Materials and Structures,
TPI Composites Germany GmbH
Dr.-Ing. Alexander Krimmer
Principal Engineer Composite Materials and StructuresTPI Composites Germany GmbH
10:10 - 10:40
Integrated Blade Development for larger Offshore Rotors: Managing Complexity in Next-Generation Blades
Ashish Pawar -
Head of Blade Structural Design,
Siemens Gamesa Renewables Energy
• Shift from component optimization to system-level technology integration
• XXL blade growth introduces new structural behaviors and higher sensitivities
• Gap between technology readiness and integration readiness becomes critical
• Strong coupling across materials, structure, LPS, manufacturing, and service
• Integrated development is key to safely pushing blade design limits
10:40 - 11:10
Quality by Design: Designing Rotor Blades for Uncertainty by Identifying, Quantifying and Absorbing Variability in Real World Conditions
Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Kleinhansl -
Geschäftsführer / Leiter Unternehmensentwicklung,
Aero Dynamik Consult Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH
• Uncertainty as a governing design factor for modern, large rotor blades
• Where variability enters the system: site conditions, operation, transport and manufacturing
• Scaling effects and hidden aeroelastic couplings in very large blades
• Designing robustness beyond nominal load cases and guideline compliance
Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Kleinhansl
Geschäftsführer / Leiter UnternehmensentwicklungAero Dynamik Consult Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH
11:10 - 11:40
Coffee Break and Networking
11:40 - 12:10
Torsional Testing: Why torsional loads matter and what we're learning
Anna Southall -
Senior Test Engineer, Research and Engineering,
ORE CATAPULT
• Why torsional loads are of interest as blades grow longer and more flexible
• Our methodology to quantify representative deformation equivalent to service life loading
• New torsional fatigue test rig set up and initial results
• Implications for future blade validation and testing best practice.
12:10 - 12:40
Designing for the Next Edition: Implications of the New Rotor Blade Standard for Cost, Quality & Validation
Søren Find Madsen -
Founder and Secretary of IEC Maintenance Team 24,
Upvious ApS
• Key changes from Edition 2 to Edition 3
• New validation and testing expectations
• Lightning protection challenges for carbon blades
• Cost–benefit gap between OEMs and end users
12:40 - 13:10
Panel Discussion: Standards as guidance – Not a shield, not a guarantee.
Standards as guidance – Not a shield, not a guarantee. - Setting the Context for Rotor Blade Reliability, Failure Prevention, Cost and Quality, and the Future Design Direction under IEC 61400.
Standards provide essential guidance for rotor blade design, but they are neither a shield against failure nor a guarantee of long-term reliability. This panel discusses how standardisation sets the context for reliability, failure prevention, cost and quality decisions under increasing technical and economic pressure. It also looks ahead to the future development of IEC 61400 and the resulting consequences for blade design, manufacturing and lifetime performance.
13:10 - 14:30
Lunch Break and Networking
14:30 - 15:00
Dispute Investigations and Handling Rotor Blade Damage Claims: Manufacturing Defects, Serial Failures or Force Majeure?
Amilcar Zambrano -
Blade and RCA Expert,
DNV
• Assessment of damage drivers: manufacturing, design, operation, extreme events.
• Contractual triggers and allocation of investigation responsibilities.
• Cost versus risk implications of investigation outcomes.
• Selecting the appropriate investigation depth and methodology.
• Practical limits to investigation robustness and evidentiary confidence.
15:00 - 15:30
Blade Life Extension: Best Practice for Determining Remaining Life
• Structured workflow combining inspections, SCADA/CMS signals, structural modelling and targeted testing
• How to translate single blade testing into fleet level decisions (RWE case insights)
• Managing uncertainty and defining a defendable Remaining Useful Life (RUL) statement
• Interfaces to emerging O&M standards and implications for safety, risk, insurers & regulators
15:30 - 16:00
From Inspection Data to Repair or Replace Strategies
• Combining inspection data to assess blade condition, damage progression and remaining lifetime
• Independent repair or replace guidance to optimise risk and lifecycle cost
16:00 - 16:30
Sustainability, Lifetime Extension and End of Life of Rotor Blades – From Data Gaps to Competitive Advantage?
Alexander Boeth -
Senior Consultant Compliance, Sustainability & Transaction,
Ramboll Energy
• Where does Sustainability pressure come from? Customer requirements, tenders, regulation, or internal targets – what actually drives action today?
• Data, tools and pathways: What sustainability measures are companies already implementing across the rotor blade lifecycle – and how does better data accelerate progress?
• Lifetime vs. Circularity: Is extending blade lifetime the most effective sustainability strategy, and where does circularity realistically add value?
16:00 - 16:30
Methods and Mechanisms for Triggering Rotor Blade Investigations across Stakeholders
Amilcar Zambrano -
Blade and RCA Expert,
DNV
Many rotor blade damage cases involve multiple stakeholders who agree an investigation is needed, yet the methods and mechanisms to initiate it are often unclear, inconsistent, or sensitive due to contractual and risk considerations. This roundtable examines how investigations are triggered in practice, sharing pragmatic experiences from owners, OEMs, insurers, and advisors to move from damage occurrence to effective investigation.
16:00 - 16:30
Blade–Hub Connections: Bolted Interfaces, Challenges and Practical Design Considerations for Installation and Long Term Service Performance
16:30 - 17:00
Coffee Break and Networking
17:00 - 18:00
From Competition to Collaboration: Standardization Opportunities in Rotor Blade Design, Transport and Handling
Ashish Pawar -
Head of Blade Structural Design,
Siemens Gamesa Renewables Energy
Henrik Ramsdahl Fredslund - Chief Engineer Blade Structural Design, Siemens Gamesa
• Exploring where industry-wide standardisation could reduce complexity, CapEx and risk in blade transport, handling and installation
• Understanding how blade design decisions are shaped by handling, logistics and installation constraints
• Identifying realistic collaboration areas across OEMs, suppliers and service providers without compromising competitiveness
As rotor blades continue to scale, transport, handling and installation have emerged as major cost drivers and risk factors across the value chain. This workshop explores where early stage standardization across OEMs, suppliers and service providers - covering interfaces, tools and equipment - can reduce complexity, CapEx and operational risk, without constraining innovation or competitive differentiation.
Following a short impulse presentation, participants will discuss where cross industry inspiration and collaboration create real value, and what could realistically be standardized, such as lifting concepts, transport and handling interfaces, standard tools and equipment, or common handling philosophies.
