The project
On a global scale, an estimated 2,5 million of tons of composite materials are currently in use in wind turbines. It is expected that 350 Ktons of end-of-life (EoL) wind turbine blades (WTBs) will be decommissioned in Europe in 2030. However, the cost-efficient recycling of composite materials remains a challenge and circularity of wind turbine blades is basically close to zero today.
The aim of REWIND is to develop critical technologies for dismantling wind turbine blades and implementing new methodologies for composites repurposing and recycling to increase their circularity, raising the industrial applications of the end-of-life composites and avoiding the current landfilling or incineration.
The concept
REWIND will develop suitable disassembly, quality inspection and characterisation of the composite waste, to decide if composite parts from EoL products should be reused or recycled depending on their value. REWIND will show potential high-value applications for composite end-of-life: repurposing for construction and automotive sector.
New innovative pyrolysis and solvolysis methods for recycling will be developed to reduce the processing temperature and time. The secondary raw materials obtained (sized recycled fiber fabrics and recycled vitrimer matrix from polymerized monomers) will be used to rethink and manufacture a small wind blade root section and composites patches for blades repairing.
Objectives
Photography @mc._hb
Expected outcomes
The Rewind project will develope technologies for dismantling end-of-life wind turbine blades and implement new methodologies for composites repurposing and recycling.
Photography @heleabril