Presentations

Abstract

"In recent decades, the recycling of decommissioned wind turbine blades has become increasingly important as the industry moves toward more sustainable solutions. Although replacing virgin materials with recycled composites remains challenging, it is essential for building a more sustainable sector. To support this transition, Acciona has developed a continuous low-temperature thermal recycling process (patent pending) known as WALUE (Waste to vALUE). This process enables the recovery of both reinforcing fibers (carbon and glass) and the polymer matrix, which is converted into pyrolytic oils. These recovered materials can be transformed into new intermediate products such as rovings and non-woven fabrics, which are suitable for applications across industries including construction, transport, automotive, and chemicals. As a proof of concept, Acciona successfully manufactured a pultruded profile using recycled carbon fibers. This profile can be used in next-generation wind turbine blades or in civil engineering applications, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional materials. Glass fiber (GF) and carbon fiber (CF) composite components were sourced from wind turbine blades decommissioned due to damage caused by natural disasters. These materials were processed using the WALUE recycling method to recover discontinuous GF and CF, which were subsequently converted into non-woven fabrics. The resulting recycled GF (rGF) and recycled CF (rCF) non-wovens were used to replace conventional virgin non-woven materials in the production of pultruded profiles with a thickness of 5 mm, intended for use in the construction industry. "