Solutions to Repurpose Wind Turbine Blades

December 11, 2023

As wind energy expands, so does the need for a sustainable solution to address retired turbine blades. Wind turbine blades require disposal or recycling when decommissioned at the end-of-use stage, or when wind projects are upgraded in a process known as repowering. Fiberglass blades could pose a challenge to end-of-use considerations for wind energy, but innovation has entered the picture.

Old blades are finding new life as park benches and picnic tables. Some blades are shredded  to reuse the fiberglass and plastic resin to make cement and industrial plastics.  Other solutions include use as pedestrian bridges, roofs for emergency and affordable housing, and in civil engineering projects as part of powerline structures or towers.

For more:

https://blog.ucsusa.org/james-gignac/wind-turbine-blades-recycling/ 

https://www.gocanvus.com/our-story

https://cen.acs.org/environment/recycling/companies-recycle-wind-turbine-blades/100/i27