Attachment method to install components, such as tip extensions and winglets, to a wind turbine blade, as well as the wind turbine blade and component

A method for installing an add-on component to a surface of a wind turbine blade, the add-on component having a body with an open span-wise end, a pressure side surface, and a suction side surface, the method comprising:

• defining a slot in one or both of the pressure side or suction side surfaces of the add-on component;
• attaching an adhesive side of one or more strips of a double-sided adhesive tape onto either the surface of the wind turbine blade or an interior surface of the add-on component, the tape strips having a release liner on an opposite exposed side thereof;
• the tape strips arranged longitudinally along one or both sides of the slot, and each of the tape strips having an extension tail that extends beyond an edge of the add-on component when the add-on component is placed and held at a desired position against the surface of the wind turbine blade;
• and
• with the add-on component held at the desired position, pulling the extension tail along the slot at an angle such that that release liner is removed through the slot along the length of the tape strip while maintaining the desired position of the add-on component against the surface of the wind turbine blade to attach the exposed adhesive from under the release liner to either the surface of the wind turbine blade or the surface of the add-on component.