Wind turbine components

1. A method of making a wind turbine component, the method comprising:

providing a mould, the mould defining a half shell of a wind turbine blade;

providing a fibrous pre-form, the fibrous pre-form comprising multiple layers of dry glass fibre fabric attached together;

heating the fibrous pre-form outside of the mould to a heated state;

placing the fibrous pre-form in the mould while in the heated state;

admitting resin into the mould; and

curing the resin.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

heating the fibrous pre-form to a first temperature before placing the fibrous pre-form in the mould, and

admitting resin into the mould at a second temperature, wherein the first temperature is higher than the second temperature.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first temperature is between 30° C. and 80° C.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the fibrous pre-form comprises arranging the fibrous pre-form in contact with one or more heating devices.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising arranging the fibrous pre-form over a support.

6. The method of claim 5 , comprising arranging the or each heating device between the support and the fibrous pre-form.

7. The method of claim 5 , comprising arranging an insulating layer over the fibrous pre-form.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the or each heating device is a heating mat or heating blanket.

9. The method of claim 4 , comprising heating a plurality of fibrous pre-forms together.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising stacking the plurality of fibrous pre-forms on a support.

11. The method of claim 10 , comprising arranging a heating device and/or an insulating layer between the fibrous pre-forms in the stack.

12. The method of claim 1 , comprising storing the fibrous pre-form in a heated state.

13. The method of claim 1 , comprising making and heating the fibrous pre-form simultaneously.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising making the fibrous pre-form on a heated surface.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wind turbine component is a wind turbine blade.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multiple layers of dry glass fibre fabric are attached together by stitching or adhesive.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

heating the mould while the fibrous pre-form is placed in the mould.

18. A method of making a wind turbine rotor blade from a pair of half shells, the method comprising:

providing a mould, the mould defining a half shell of the wind turbine blade;

providing a support adjacent to the mould, the support including a heated surface supporting one or more fibrous pre-forms on the heated surface and an insulating layer over the one or more fibrous pre-forms, the or each fibrous pre-form comprising multiple layers of dry glass fibre fabric attached together;

heating the one or more fibrous pre-forms on the support to a heated state;

removing at least one of the one or more fibrous pre-forms from the support and placing the at least one fibrous pre-form in the mould while in the heated state;

admitting resin into the mould; and

curing the resin.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more fibrous pre-forms include a plurality of pre-forms arranged in a stack and being supported by the support, wherein each pre-form includes an insulating layer overlying the pre-form.

20. A method of making a wind turbine rotor blade from a pair of half shells, the method comprising:

providing a mould, the mould defining a half shell of the wind turbine blade and having heaters for heating the mould;

providing a support adjacent to the mould, the support including a heated surface supporting one or more fibrous pre-forms on the heated surface, the or each fibrous pre-form comprising multiple layers of dry glass fibre fabric attached together;

heating the one or more fibrous pre-forms on the support to a first temperature;

removing at least one of the one or more fibrous pre-forms from the support and placing the at least one fibrous pre-form in the mould while in a heated state;

activating the heaters on the mould to maintain the at least one fibrous pre-form at or near the first temperature;

admitting resin into the mould at a second temperature, wherein the first temperature is higher than the second temperature; and

curing the resin.