The Second Life of Wind Turbine Blades

Jan 12, 2017 8 comments

As the world pushes towards renewable energy, the wind energy industry comes to the forefront as a clean and a genuinely green energy. And like any other industry, the wind industry too is technologically evolving producing bigger and better upgrades, which means that old wind farms are being regularly decommissioned and refitted with upgraded equipment. Herein, comes the question of recycling, and the wind industry has a reputation to hold. Unfortunately, one of the largest component of a wind turbine —the blades— are completely unrecyclable.

Turbine blades are made from glass or carbon-fiber composites. These materials are strong, lightweight and has a significant aerodynamic advantage, but they are nearly impossible to recycle. Hence, at the end of their lifecycle, most of these blades end up as waste on landfills. According to one estimate, there will be 50,000 tons of blade waste in 2020, which will rise to more than 200,000 tons by 2034.

wikado-playground-5

A playground in Rotterdam built out of decommissioned wind turbine blades. Photo credit: Denis Guzzo/Flickr

The current scenario is grim. There is only one industrial enterprise that recycles end-of-life turbine blades, and that’s in Melbeck, in northern Germany. The company shreds the blades and after mixing it with other waste material produces a compound that a certain cement producer uses as a substitute fuel. The company processes about 400-500 tons of waste turbine blades each month.

As far as innovative attempts to reduce waste is concerned, the Netherlands is leading the change.

In 2007, the Rotterdam municipality unveiled a playground for Kinderparadijs Meidoorn built out of rotor blades that were originally destined for landfills. Several rotor blades were cut up into parts to serve as tunnels, towers, bridges, hills, ramps and slides. The recycled blades were secured into the ground and painted white with brightly colored stripes.

The city also has public seating at the Willemsplein square where nine intact rotor blades were placed at various angles to create ergonomic public seating with a diversity of seating options. Similarly, in 2014, a durable bus shelter was created in the city of Almere, again from end-of-life turbine blades.

According to the GenVind Innovation Consortium, if only 5 percent of the Netherlands’ yearly production of urban furniture such as playgrounds, public seating and bus shelters were made using waste rotor blades, then the country could get rid of all of its estimated 400 waste rotor blades produced annually.

REwind Willemsplein

rewind-willemsplein-6

Photo credit: Denis Guzzo/Flickr

rewind-willemsplein-3

Photo credit: Denis Guzzo/Flickr

rewind-willemsplein-1

Photo credit: Denis Guzzo/Flickr

rewind-willemsplein-2

Photo credit: Denis Guzzo/Flickr

rewind-willemsplein-5

Photo credit: Denis Guzzo/Flickr

Wikado Playground

wikado-playground-1

Photo credit: Denis Guzzo/Flickr

wikado-playground-2

Photo credit: Denis Guzzo/Flickr

wikado-playground-3

Photo credit: Denis Guzzo/Flickr

wikado-playground-4

Photo credit: Denis Guzzo/Flickr

The Future

A team of scientists at Aarhus University in Denmark is trying to develop a chemical substance that will make it possible to separate composite materials from each other — the main problem that has been thwarting recycling attempts. The goal of the team is to create a chemical solvent that can separate the glass from the plastic fibers so they each can be recycled individually.

Another team of researchers at the Washington State University have discovered that turbine blades when cut into small pieces could be processed into new composite materials that hold up well compared to many wood composites. These materials could have a variety of applications, from floor tiles to plastic road barriers.

Sources: GenVind Innovation Consortium / No Tech Magazine / Wind Power Engineering / Wind Power Monthly

Comments

  1. Wind energy will never be sufficient to run a technological civilization, and the unreliability of wind as a power source will mean that will always require another backup power source for the time when the winds die down.

    Plus, wind turbines are enormous bird-killing machines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Buildings are responsible for over 50% of all bird deaths while wind turbines account for less than 1%. If you cared about birds so much you would be protesting tall buildings.

      Delete
    2. nobody ever said that wind energy could be the only source of energy...Every expert in alternative energy now recommend a diversify set of renewable energies, going from wind to sun, including wood,etc. And more and more people are going for decentralized small energy "plants". Not sure what you wanted to prove by your comment...

      Delete
    3. Comments like Ken's - often nearly verbatim - can be found wherever any alternative energy story is published. There is little doubt in my mind that paid fossil fuel shills search out such stories and leave prepared fallacious arguments such as his.

      Delete
  2. Great post! It's so good to be a kid again. I wish I had a longer childhood, no problems, just fun.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just would like to mention that this wind project s in holland were designed by Césare Peeren, Superuse Studios....We are now finishing our second playground in terneuzen and working on a foot bridge in aalborg denmark....
    check this out to:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7Pj2pCYrek&t=9s

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cesare - thank you for your work and creativity! I have manufactured blades and so fully understand how difficult it is to manage the scrap blades (try cutting up the 100 mm thick root section of a 50 m blade.) I believe bus shelters could be an ideal application/use for large blade sections and hope you can apply your contacts and talents to this. Again - thanks! GWood - Composite Recycling Technology Center.

      Delete
  4. What a great project for some architecture students.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

More on Amusing Planet

{{posts[0].title}}

{{posts[0].date}} {{posts[0].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}

{{posts[1].title}}

{{posts[1].date}} {{posts[1].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}

{{posts[2].title}}

{{posts[2].date}} {{posts[2].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}

{{posts[3].title}}

{{posts[3].date}} {{posts[3].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}