Risø DTU (Technical University of Denmark) has announced results in their research regarding ways to reduce load on wind turbine blades. It's a controllable trailing edge flap made of rubber that, much like flaps on airplane wings, allows the blade to change shape. This reduces the dynamic loads on turbine blades on large turbines during operation.

The trailing edge is contructed of flexible materials, which allows its shape to be changed, unline wing flaps which are fixed shape and simply move and rotate.

The above illustration shows a controllable, flexible edge, controlled with load parameters on a small profile section attached in front of the main blade.

A number of different prototypes have been tested, ranging from 15 cm to 30 cm in length. The results are promising, and more tests in a wind tunnel are coming soon. If estimated results are confirmed, the trailing edge could see further "real size" testing in the coming years.