Presentations

Abstract

The wind energy sector has witnessed remarkable growth as a cornerstone of sustainable energy generation, and a clear reflection of this is that in 2021 Europe installed 17 GW of new wind power capacity. As the development of wind turbines increases, the management of decommissioned wind turbine blades (WTBs) has become a major challenge due to the conventional operational lifetime is short, 20-25 years. Some parts of the wind turbines such as tower, gearbox, foundation, and generator are already undergoing recycling. The management of the WTBs is a major environmental concern representing a very relevant industrial challenge. Nowadays, blades end up to landfill, but many countries have started to ban this activity to favor other more sustainable chooses for the management of this waste. WTBs generally consist of carbon fiber or glass fiber reinforced polymers mixed with a resin, resulting in a thermosetting polymer that cannot be melted for recycling, becoming a challenge for the management of this residues. However, new recycling systems are being developed to try to recover as much material as possible, including pyrolysis and solvolysis, but there are no studies available that analyze in detail the circularity and sustainability of these techniques. This conference paper presents a qualitative and semi-quantitative characterization of the circularity and sustainability of various thermal and chemical recycling alternatives for WTBs, based on an extensive literature review and stakeholder's consultations. The study aims to provide a complete understanding of these recycling methods, their advantages and disadvantages and their feasibility for an efficient end-of-life management of the blades, analyzing the environmental, economic, social and technical aspects. In addition, critical points identified through interviews and questionnaires with stakeholders are further explored, highlighting the reasons and possible improvements.