Owens Corning announced at the European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition in Athens, Greece, a breakthrough single-end roving and knitted fabric, Windstrand, which will allow the wind energy market to take another step forward in competing successfully against other alternative energy sources by reducing the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

The product enables turbine manufacturers to increase blade lengths by as much as six per cent and deliver up to 12 per cent more power - for up to 20 per cent less cost than any competing carbon-glass hybrid material.

In addition to the cost and performance benefits of Windstrand, the product also provides manufacturers with the traditional processability of glass, combined with the stiffness, strength and weight of other high-performance materials.

Other product highlights compared to conventional E-glass include: up to 35 per cent higher tensile strengths; up to 17 per cent higher stiffness (modulus); and enhanced fatigue, impact, aging, corrosion, and temperature resistance. 

For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com