In November, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced a thermoplastic composite blade that could be more easily recycled. The downside of repurposing blades is the particular shape and size restricts the number of applications, and the rate of decommissioned blades likely would outstrip repurposed needs. Researchers from Georgia Tech imagine how blades could be used for roofs, power lines and bridges. This strategy, supported by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), is attractive, as it would avoid additional industrial processes that could result in more greenhouse gases.Ī presentation from the BladeUSA forum in 2019 outlines what some of these applications could be. Reusing bladesĪnother strategy is to find new uses for old blades, repurposing them for pedestrian bridges and playgrounds. The movement from these players in recent months reflects a growing pressure to address this issue, especially as renewable energy companies vie for green reputations. The group is looking at three potential processes: shredding blades for cement, shredding blades for other products and separating composite materials. ![]() Both Orsted and GE are members, as well as other companies in the value chain. Recognizing the need to address the challenge as an industry, 10 wind project partners launched a consortium at the start of the year called DecomBlades. According to a company release, this process also could reduce the net emissions from cement production by a quarter. The scheme involves shredding blades at Veolia’s Missouri facility, then using the output as a raw material for cement. In December, GE Renewable Energy announced a multi-year agreement with Veolia North America for a first-of-its-kind blade recycling program. With recycling options still elusive, Orsted said it will "temporarily store" its decommissioned blades while it explores options. Last week, Orsted announced it would "reuse, recycle or recover" all of its blades worldwide. Momentum is building among the top wind developers to find easier ways to achieve that third option: material recovery. Once blades are decommissioned, they could be reused, disposed of, or the materials could be recovered. In the current wind farm life cycle, there aren’t a lot of great options. "We get tires, asbestos, contaminated soil, pretty nasty stuff."īut the practice is a conspicuous waste of materials and is at odds with sustainability ideals. "This is the least problematic waste in terms of environmental concerns that we’ve ever gotten," said Cindie Langston, manager of the solid waste division for Casper, Wyoming, home to a blade graveyard. They don’t leach into soils or emit other harmful chemicals, as other waste products can. This practice arguably makes an even larger environmental problem, as incineration emits greenhouse gases and air pollutants.īurying the blades is relatively benign. The European Union, which has strict regulations about what can go into landfills, has turned to burning blades in power plants. The most common solution today is to cut blades down (using a diamond-encrusted industrial blade) and bury them in a mass blade grave. ![]() ![]() They’re massive - some are longer than a Boeing 747 wing - and they’re strong, built to withstand hurricane-force winds. Primarily made from reinforced fiberglass composite, blades are difficult to crush or recycle. While most wind turbine components, including steel, copper wire and electronics, can be recycled, the blades have bedeviled energy developers and waste management experts. The replacement of those turbines represents a perfect opportunity to take a look at wind energy and how circular principles can make the equipment even more environmentally friendly. In other words, this is a problem that is about to get a lot bigger. Most of those were installed more than a decade ago, when installations were less than a fifth of what they are now. alone, about 8,000 blades are expected to be removed this year. As the world ramps up renewable energy deployments, an uncomfortable truth is arising: The materials, manufacturing processes and disposal methods for clean technologies are creating their own issues.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |