RCAM Technologies and Accucode developing 3D printed concrete wind turbine parts
IT service provider Accucode is partnering up with RCAM Technologies, a specialist in large-scale concrete additive manufacturing, to develop 3D printed wind energy components made from concrete.
Central to the project is RCAM’s additive manufacturing technology, which is being adapted from concrete 3D printing and more conventional construction methods. The company’s main goal is to utilize additive technology to produce mega-scale, highly loaded structures, such as wind turbine towers and offshore wind energy support structures.
The partnership with Accucode comes on the heels of a grant announcement. RCAM Technologies recently received $250,000 from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (COEDIT) through its Advanced Industries Accelerator Grant Program. The grant money is going towards the development of a 3D printed concrete wind turbine foundation, with the aim of minimizing offshore deployment costs significantly—by up to $4 million per foundation and $400 million per wind plant.
Specifically, the funding will enable RCAM to expand its 3D printing capabilities at two new partner locations: the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado and Accucode’s new facility in Colorado Springs, CO.
Jason Cotrell, CEO of RCAM Technologies, commented on the funding, saying: “This grant will allow us to establish large scale 3D concrete printing capabilities in Colorado and utilize NREL’s world-class testing facilities to advance our technologies.”
The first step in RCAM’s expansion plan will involve setting up its large-scale concrete 3D printing system at NREL. This system will be used to construct fixed-bottom support structures for offshore wind turbines. Once RCAM’s AM and assembly processed have been tested at NREL, the system will be transported to Accucode’s facility for additional R&D—conducted by Accucode 3D and The 3D Printing Store.
Finally, the Accucode team will work with concrete printing experts to test the technology for a range of other renewable energy and civil infrastructure applications.“3D technology is in the process of disrupting how we make everything, including commercial construction,” said Accucode CEO, Kevin Price. “Accucode 3D and The 3D Printing Store are proud to partner with RCAM to lead the way.”
