Innovations Beyond Paint - We dare to explore

Energiekontor AG, a pioneer in renewable energies since 1990 and listed on the SDAX of the German stock exchange, has teamed up with the international maintenance company Omega-Tools GmbH and BASF’s Coatings division to gradually equip its wind turbines with Novaflex BladeUp, thus making them more efficient. With its microscopic line structures, the functional film ensures a noticeable increase in the yield of wind turbines. The riblets reduce the formation of unfavorable air turbulence on the surface of the blades, so that a larger proportion of the wind can be used for generating electricity. In a measurement campaign that has been running for about a year, an increase of up to three percent in power output was determined; for this purpose, BASF Novaflex BladeUp was installed on a 1.3-megawatt SWT 1,300 turbine (formerly AN Bonus) in Ilsede, Lower Saxony, Germany.

“We are impressed with the significant increase in power yield with Novaflex BladeUp. This makes it all the more important that we implement this option for our plants in a timely manner and thus contribute to the energy transition,” said Carsten Schwarz, Member of the Management Board from Energiekontor AG. The company has awarded Omega-Tools GmbH a first contract to equip wind turbines of the tested type with BASF’s film and intends to include further turbine types. In the long term, Energiekontor AG wants to equip all available turbines – their own and those managed by their company – with Novaflex BladeUp.

BASF has started production of ultra-high performance moisture barrier films in a new, dedicated production plant at its BASF Coatings Headquarters in Münster/Germany. The innovative and unique technology developed since 2014 is protected by an extensive range of patents covering chemistry, products, manufacturing process and equipment.

BASF has also recently further expanded and strengthened its patent portfolio through a license agreement with Eastman Kodak Company. Under the agreement BASF acquired rights on 14 different patent families, among others, related to the deposition of thin-film materials from the gas phase onto flexible or rigid substrates.

The new technology enables continuous and highly efficient roll-to-roll manufacturing processes producing barrier films in widths up to 1.4 meter. The current products find applications in the flexible electronic and energy markets.

“Our customers appreciate the strong protection our films provide against moisture while ensuring full transparency, mechanical flexibility and superior outdoor stability”, says Joerg Lenz, Head of Beyond Paint Solutions Business Unit within BASF Coatings.