Presentations

Abstract

The CIRCUBLADE project investigated the potential to develop a circular solution for reusing large quantities of end-of-life (EoL) WTBs. The research covered efficient logistics, design and manufacturing, the development of a digital tool to support the circular process, and overall resource efficiency. To ensure the environmental soundness of blade reuse, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted. Additionally, to gauge consumer interest, a survey was distributed to Swedish municipalities. As part of the project’s demonstration, a bridge was constructed using composite materials from recycled and reused WTBs, with the load-bearing structure made from an EoL blade. The survey indicated that Swedish municipalities are open to adopting products like the bridge, given they meet the same standards as conventional infrastructure. The logistical analysis revealed that transportation and machinery account for a significant portion of the total handling costs, with logistics comprising up to 30% of the total project expenses. Establishing logistical hubs could improve efficiency, but transporting blades across EU countries must become easier. Currently, the classification of blades as waste rather than products poses a major obstacle to efficient cross-border transport. To facilitate blade management, a digital platform was developed. The platform is designed to catalogue blades in Sweden and provide secure access to data needed for repurposing, such as structural details and repair history. Additional tools, including a cutting calculation tool and a routing tool, have also been integrated to streamline the repurposing process. Finally, an LCA was performed to determine when repurposing a blade is environmentally viable. To support actors in improving the circularity of their designs the project produced two guidelines. A Circularity Design Guideline that provides an understanding of what to think of to design a more circular product. A Sustainability Guide that highlights the gains of using repurposed products form wind turbine blades. https://chalmersindustriteknik.se/app/uploads/CIRCUBLADE-final-report-compressed-appendix1-4.pdf