Vestas, the global partner in the energy industry for sustainable energy solutions, has achieved a breakthrough in collaboration with its partners in the CETEC project. Together, they have developed a new chemical process that makes epoxy-based turbine blades circular, without the need for changing the design or composition of blade material. Through a newly established value chain, supported by Nordic recycling leader Stena Recycling and global epoxy manufacturer Olin, Vestas will now focus on scaling up the novel chemical disassembly process into a commercial solution. This circular solution has the potential to revolutionize the wind industry.
In the wind industry, turbine blades are subjected to extreme requirements. They must be lightweight, durable, and able to withstand harsh weather conditions, including hurricanes and tornadoes. For several decades, epoxy-based resin has been the standard material used in the manufacturing of wind turbine blades.
However, recycling turbine blades has been a significant challenge due to the unique chemical properties of epoxy resin. It was believed to be impossible to break down the resin into reusable components. This led to various attempts by technology leaders to replace or modify epoxy resin with alternatives that are easier to treat.
The end of the operational life of wind turbine blades is becoming more prevalent, especially in mature wind energy markets. WindEurope estimates that by 2025, approximately 25,000 tonnes of blades will reach the end of their operational life annually. Recognizing this growing issue, Vestas and its partners have made a groundbreaking discovery that directly addresses the challenge of epoxy resin. They have found an efficient way to recycle all epoxy-based blades in a circular way. Which means that this breakthrough allows old epoxy-based blades to be considered a valuable source of raw material.
Once the new technology is implemented on a large scale, both legacy blade material currently occupying landfills and blade material in active wind farms can be disassembled and repurposed. This marks the beginning of a circular economy for all existing and future epoxy-based turbine blades.
To scale up this innovative solution, Vestas is embarking on a two-year pilot project in collaboration with Olin and Stena Recycling. The goal of this project is to develop a circular value chain and create a fully commercial offering for their customers. This pilot project will mark the start of a circular economy for epoxy-based turbine blades, bringing us closer to achieving sustainability goals in the wind industry.
Learn more in the video here.
We also invite you to learn more about Vestas by visiting our website at www.vestas.com.
About Vestas
Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service onshore and offshore wind turbines across the globe, and with more than 160 GW of wind turbines in 88 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled more than 140 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas’ more than 28,000 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future.
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