The SFWF project (Superior Fatigue Welded Flanges), “New sustainable manufacturing route for welded flanges to improve fatigue life in wind superstructures,” aims to develop a new generation of high-performance welded flanges for wind towers, capable of achieving fatigue resistance levels beyond those currently available on the market. This innovation will enhance the competitiveness of large-scale wind structures, especially in offshore applications, where mechanical and reliability requirements are increasingly demanding.
The initiative focuses on the research of new materials, advanced rolling, welding, and heat treatment processes, as well as the validation of their performance under real service conditions. Thanks to these developments, FIHI aims to manufacture welded flanges with structural performance comparable to or greater than that of traditional forged solutions, while maintaining the flexibility and efficiency advantages associated with their production process.
The project addresses the technological challenges arising from the growth of offshore wind energy and the continuous increase in wind turbine power, contributing to the development of more efficient, reliable, and sustainable components. Its results will be applied in the strategic energy sector, strengthening the competitiveness of the European wind value chain and the industrial capabilities of the Basque Country in advanced metallurgy and renewable energy.
SFWF aligns with the objectives of the Basque Country Industry Plan 2030, contributing to the strengthening of the technological and innovative capacity of Basque industry and to the development of higher value-added products for international markets. The project will also boost the competitiveness of the energy and metallurgical sectors, promoting internationalization and European strategic autonomy in technologies linked to renewable energy.
Through this initiative, FIHI reinforces its commitment to industrial innovation, advanced manufacturing, and the development of proprietary knowledge, consolidating its ability to offer differentiated technological solutions in one of the sectors with the greatest global growth potential.
Project co-funded by the Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability of the Basque Government and by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2021–2027, within the framework of the HAZITEK program supporting business R&D.
