Organic conductive elements for deicing and lightning protection of a wind turbine rotor blade

A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine, the rotor blade assembly comprising:

• a rotor blade having a body shell comprising a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge each extending between a root portion and a tip portion, the body shell being constructed of one or more foam materials;
• and,
• a protection system configured to protect the rotor blade from ice accumulation or a lightning strike, the protection system comprising:
• at least one organic conductive foam core embedded at or near the leading edge of the rotor blade in place of the one or more foam materials of the body shell, the at least one organic conductive foam core comprising a carbon-based foam core;
• and,
• a conductor source coupled to the at least one organic conductive foam core, the conductor source comprising at least a conductive cable infused into or configured adjacent to a leading edge bond cap of the rotor blade,
• wherein the conductor source is configured to heat the organic conductive foam core so as to prevent ice from accumulating on the rotor blade or to provide a conductive path for the lightning strike.