Recycling epoxy resin
2023-02-09 19:29:38.17292+01 by Dan Lyke 0 comments
Vestas claims major breakthough in wind turbine blade recycling
In a landmark discovery that Vestas hopes will change this, the company has developed a new chemical process that is capable of breaking down epoxy resin into virgin-grade materials.
The new method does not require a change in the design or composition of blade materials, meaning that the recycling method can be applied to turbine blades in use or those that have been dumped into landfill.
Vestas unveils circularity solution to end landfill for turbine blades.
“Until now, the wind industry has believed that turbine blade material calls for a new approach to design and manufacture to be either recyclable, or beyond this, circular, at end of life. Going forward, we can now view old epoxy-based blades as a source of raw material. Once this new technology is implemented at scale, legacy blade material currently sitting in landfill, as well as blade material in active windfarms, can be disassembled, and re-used. This signals a new era for the wind industry, and accelerates our journey towards achieving circularity,” says Lisa Ekstrand, Vice President and Head of Sustainability at Vestas.