We would like to invite you to come and see the posters at our upcoming conference. The posters will showcase a diverse range of research topics, and will give delegates an opportunity to engage with the authors and learn more about their work. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or simply curious about the latest developments in your field, we believe that the posters will offer something of interest to everyone. So please join us at the conference and take advantage of this opportunity to learn and engage with your peers in the academic community. We look forward to seeing you there!
PO040: blade*pontoon by rethink*rotor
Ina-Marie Orawiec, CEO, Managing Director, OX2architekten GmbH
Abstract
The blade*pontoon project is developing concepts for artificial floating islands made out of discarded rotor blades from off shore wind farms that could expand liveable space at sea.
Leaving the giant blades in the anthroposphere not only enables significant carbon dioxide reductions, it is also more sustainable than their material recycling by using the complete rotor blades for high-volume applications, such as pontoon construction for floating islands, unloading of ships, fishing and seaweed-harvesting facilities, and renewable energy systems like solar, tidal or wave energy generators.
The blade*pontoon project ensures that valuable knowledge, production technology and grey energy contained in each wind rotor blade are not lost forever, but are upgraded in their "second life" as floating ports and villages.
blade*pontoon presents application ideas and design solutions that efficiently use the durability and performance of a complete rotor blade with minimal impact on shape and material, for example, to provide buoyancy for an artificial island.
In the face of rising sea levels, building dikes and reclaiming land from the sea may no longer be an effective solution, as they consume large amounts of raw materials, sand and gravel. The repurpose for discarded wind turbine rotor blades in the construction industry will make an important contribution to the use of resources in the future! In cross-industry rotor blade repurposing, creative energy, new technologies and sustainability goals are combined.
Rather than costly recycling of rotor blades or exporting them abroad for bogus recycling, their repurpose opens up the possibility of making epoxy-based composites, related technology and know-how a "raw material source" for a broader circular economy.