Nikon today announced that it will provide Eurus Energy, a film treated by riblet processing, which contributes to improving wind power generation efficiency. Eurus Energy will attach the riblet film to the wind turbine blades in the Eurus Soya misaki Wind Farm (Hokkaido) and verify the increased rate of power output, test the durability of surfaces covered with the film and obtain related data.

Riblet processing is a type of biomimetics and forms a fine groove structure inspired by the shape of shark skin, which reduces water resistance. The wind turbines will be operated with the riblet film attached on a trial basis for a year from September 10 to verify improved power generation efficiency and the durability of the riblet film. Three pairs of 1-MW wind turbines in similar wind environment conditions will be selected. One will be attached with riblet films and the other without to compare power output, etc.

Nikon anticipates that attaching the riblet film will improve wind power generation efficiency by approximately 3 percent. By applying riblet film on all 57 wind turbines at the Eurus Soya misaki Wind Farm, it is expected to increase the power generation equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 1,710 households. This will be the Japan’s first attempt to conduct a verification test aiming to improve wind power generation efficiency by attaching a riblet film to wind turbine blades.