On a global scale, an estimated 2.5 million tonnes of composite materials are currently in use in wind turbines. Approximately 350 Ktonnes of end-of-life (EoL) wind turbine blades are expected to be decommissioned in Europe by 2030. However, cost-efficient recycling of composite materials remains a challenge and the circularity of wind turbine blades is currently close to zero.
Image Credit: AIMPLAS
The aim of the REWIND Project (Efficient Decommissioning, Repurposing and Recycling to Increase the Circularity of End-of-Life Wind Energy Systems) is to develop critical technologies for dismantling wind turbine blades and implement new methods for composites repurposing and recycling in order to enhance their circularity, increase the industrial applications of end-of-life composites and avoid current landfilling and incineration.
REWIND will develop proper disassembly, quality inspection and characterization of composite waste to decide if composite parts from EoL products should be reused or recycled depending on their value. This project will also highlight potential high-value applications for EoL composites, such as repurposing for the construction and automotive industries. Recycling the most degraded parts will separate the matrix from the fiber. The recycled fibers, after subsequent sizing, spinning, and weaving, along with new recycled resin from the solvolysis process monomer, will be used in the same wind sector. They will be used for manufacturing a wind blade part and a repair kit as demonstrators.
The project is funded by the European Union and includes 14 partners (6 RTDs, 2 Universities, 4 SMEs, 3 large companies and 1 association) from seven different countries: Spain, France, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Turkey and Greece.
AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is the coordinator of this research project and the leader of thermal and chemical recycling tasks. Catalyst pyrolysis and solvolysis methods will be developed to reduce processing temperatures and times. AIMPLAS is also in charge of repolymerization of recovered monomers from the organic fraction of solvolysis to obtain new recycled resins (epoxy, polyester and vitrimer resins).
Anticipated outcomes of this 4-year research project include improved overall lifetime, reliability, recyclability and sustainability of onshore and offshore wind turbines, potential new markets in wind turbine recycling and re-purposing, enhanced overall sustainability of wind energy systems based on mainstream LCA to address social, economic and environmental aspects, and, lastly, a more efficient decommissioning and improved circularity of wind sector.
REWIND will contribute to increasing the recyclability of wind turbine blades by developing critical technologies for dismantling and new methods for repurposing and recycling. The goal will be achieved by combining three key drivers of the 7R Model: Reuse, Recycle and Rethink.
The REWIND project is funded by European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme (HORIZON) under grant agreement No. 101147226. The partners involved are: AIMPLAS , TECKNIKER , IPC – Centre Technique Industriel de la Plasturgie et des Composites , Miljøskærm, Hochschule Pforzheim – Gestaltung, Technik,Wirtschaft und Recht , Duetsche Institute für Textil – und Faserforschung Denkendorf (DIFT) , Alke Electric Vehicles , Suez Group, bcircular , Composite Patch , TPI Composites Inc . , R- Nanolab , CiaoTech – Gruppo PNO and AEMAC.