October 25, 2007 9:00 AM PDT
GE researcher Pete Finnigan shows off two jet turbine blades made using both steel and a carbon composite. The company's research in materials will be applied to GE's wind turbine business. The company is working on a 7-megawatt wind turbine that will use carbon composite material embedded within each blade. The blades are so long--at 70 meters (about 230 feet)--that they will be manufactured in two pieces.
Using strong yet flexible composites means that turbines will be much larger than today's but will be able to handle faster gusts of wind, Finnigan said.
Photo by Martin LaMonica/CNET News.com
Caption by Martin LaMonica
