Re-use of wind turbine blade for construction and infrastructure applications

Abstract

To achieve a more resource-efficient society with a future with reduced carbon dioxide emissions, new technological challenges must be dealt. One way to reach a more sustainable world is to start re-using end-of-life structures and waste and give them a ‘Second Life” with a new function in the society. As composite structures are lightweight, strong, stiff and durable materials, there is great potential to re-use decommissioned composite for new resource-efficient solutions in the building and infrastructure sector. The present paper investigates innovative solutions in re-using wind turbine blades as elements in new bicycle and pedestrian bridge designs. Several conceptual bridge designs where wind blades utilized as load bearing elements were developed and studied. The main design requirements for pedestrian bridges were considered and assumptions regarding wind blades quality and their mechanical properties addressed based on interviews with industries working with wind turbine blades repair and recycling. The aim of this paper is to contribute to a sustainable use of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) waste and at the same time provide a more cost-effective FRP bridges. In a larger perspective, the authors would like to highlight the economically profitable potential of recovering and reusing / re-manufacturing end-of-life glass FRP composites.

Sustainable End-of-Life Management of Wind Turbine Blades: Overview of Current and Coming Solutions

“…Figure 5 shows an example of these structures. Other applications include bridges (which requires additional testing and special design efforts), playgrounds, bus shelters, and other urban furniture [ 70 , 82 , 83 , 84 ]. Bank et al [ 85 ] suggested to re-use parts of wind blades in new or retrofitted housing projects in Mexico, where harsh environmental conditions (water and high humidity) exist.…”

Sustainable end-of-life value chain scenarios for wind turbine blades

“…Five narrative-based descriptions of demographics, human development, economy and lifestyle, policies and institutions, technology, and environment, and natural resources in the future represent potential societal developments. The scenarios are Sustainable development [48], Middle-of-the-road development [22], Regional rivalry [50], Inequality [51], and Fossil-fueled development [52] including long-term demographic and economic changes with a multimodel approach to project energy, land-use, and emissions trajectories [53]. For this study, we consider SSP1 as the best case, SSP2 as the middle of the road, and SSP5 as the worst case to have a clear picture of the future window of opportunities.…”

“…Structural repurposing is when sections of the blade are cut to size and used directly in making new products such as furniture [21]or bridges [22]. However, this EoL strategy is difficult to scale, and with future waste volumes in mind, more large-scale technologies must be implemented.…”

“…Jensen and Skelton considered different alternatives for cutting operations such as wire cutting, water jet cutting, jaw cutting, and saw cutting[20]. However, these operations and their impacts on future recycling scenarios are yet to be covered in the literature both in terms of operational implications and environmental impact.Structural repurposing is when sections of the blade are cut to size and used directly in making new products such as furniture[21]or bridges[22]. However, this EoL strategy is difficult to scale, and with future waste volumes in mind, more large-scale technologies must be implemented.Mechanical recycling is primarily referred to in processes where WTB waste undergoes cutting, shredding, milling, or grinding[2],[23].…”

A Decommissioned Wind Blade as a Second-Life Construction Material for a Transmission Pole

“…In addition, the need for environmentally responsible behavior is driving wind farm owners and turbine OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) to look for sustainable repurposing of wind blades in new structural applications (see for example www.re-wind.info (accessed on 6 July 2021)) [6][7][8]. Other small, medium, and large-scale structural reuse applications have also been described by Joustra et al [9,10], André et al [11], and Jensen and Skelton [12].…”