DecomBlades: Recycling of materials from wind turbine blades

Solution

• The DecomBlades innovation project has identified several cost‑effective and sustainable solutions for recycling wind turbine blades.
• Partners across the wind industry value chain have separated blade materials through a pyrolysis process, in which glass fibres from decommissioned blades are melted at high temperatures and reprocessed into new, high‑quality glass fibre.
• The remelted glass fibres from decommissioned blades have been used in the production of new wind turbine blades.
• The DecomBlades partnership has also developed new industrial material passports for decommissioned blades. This new document contains information on which materials are used and their exact location within each blade. This information makes it easier for recycling companies to separate the blades, enabling individual components to be reused.
• When the wind turbine blade reaches the end of its lifetime after 20 years or more, the material passport must be provided by the wind farm owner to the companies responsible for decommissioning and recycling. Blade manufacturers can likewise make relevant material passports available on their websites, ensuring easy access for recycling companies.

Impact

• 40 tonnes of high‑quality recycled glass fibre have been used by Siemens Gamesa in the production of new 115‑metre‑long blades for Ørsted’s offshore wind project Greater Changhua 2b and 4 in Taiwan.
• Examples of the new industrial material passports can be downloaded:
  • Vestas: Blade Material Passport
  • Siemens Gamesa: Blade Material Passport
  • LM Wind Power: Blade Material Passport