Posters

Abstract

The wind energy sector is facing increasing pressure to improve the sustainability of its components, particularly wind turbine blades, which are traditionally made with thermoset resins like epoxy. These materials, while offering excellent mechanical performance, are difficult to recycle and contribute to growing end-of-life waste challenges. Thermoplastic resins, such as Elium®, offer a promising alternative by enabling recyclability while maintaining structural integrity. Elium® is a liquid thermoplastic acrylic resin that can be processed using conventional composite manufacturing methods, such as vacuum infusion, with only minor adjustments. This compatibility allows for a smoother transition from epoxy-based systems without the need for major retooling. One of Elium®’s key advantages is its ability to be chemically depolymerized, enabling the recovery of both resin and fiber for reuse in new composite applications. This presentation provides a detailed overview of the full-scale manufacturing of a wind turbine blade using Elium®, including process adaptations, quality control, and mechanical validation. It also highlights the upscaling of recycling processes to a pre-industrial level, demonstrating the feasibility of closed-loop recycling. Comparative life-cycle analysis (LCA) results show a significantly lower environmental footprint for Elium® blades compared to epoxy-based alternatives. In addition, a cost analysis is presented, comparing the production of Elium® blades with traditional epoxy blades. While raw material costs for Elium® may be slightly higher, the recyclability and potential for value recovery at end-of-life improve the overall economic case. These findings support the adoption of thermoplastic composites as a scalable, sustainable solution for the next generation of wind turbine blades, aligning with circular economy principles and future regulatory expectations.