Methods of joining blade components of wind turbine rotor blades using positioning elements

A rotor blade for a wind turbine, comprising:

• a first blade component;
• a second blade component secured to the first blade component at an interface;
• and,
• at least one positioning element positioned at the interface of the first and second blade components, the at least one positioning element temporarily securing the first and second blade components together during assembly of the first and second blade components and then remaining part of the rotor blade when the assembly of the first and second blade components is complete, wherein the at least one positioning element maintains a desired spacing between the first and second blade components during assembly of the first and second blade components and in the rotor blade, wherein the at least one positioning element comprises a first positioning element and a second positioning element;
• a weld between the first and second positioning elements;
• and
• a weld between the first and second blade components, wherein the weld between the first and second positioning elements and the weld between the first and second blade components permanently secures the first and second blade components together.