Rekovind2 - Digitization of wind blade streams

The challenge is here now - we are facing a whole new stream of complex composite waste from end-of-life glass fiber composite (GFRP) wind turbine blades. As installation of wind turbines took off in the 1990s and 2000s and the estimated lifetime of such a product is of 20-25 years, the need for solutions for handling dismantled blades is urgent. In Sweden, approximately 1,000 blades are expected to be decomissioned between 2020-2025. Today's solution, depending on geographic takedown, is dominated by incineration and landfill, but circular solutions such as renovation and secondary market also occur. No comprehensive system exists today to be able to take advantage of the value that remains in these used blades.

End of Life (EoL) wind turbine blades can be a future resource for circular reuse, in the form of construction materials within, for example, the building sector. To make this possible, Sweden's blades must be mapped and digitized to optimize the recycling or reuse concept of the EoL blades.

The Rekovind2 project focuses on building up knowledge and competence in Sweden to be able to manage waste streams of EoL wind turbine blades as a future circular material resource. Two basic research questions will be studied:

1. To increase knowledge about existing installed blades in Sweden via mapping and digitization. As the blades may be a future resource for building materials, more detailed information is needed to stimulate new business opportunities in the reuse of end-of-life blades.
2. Increase knowledge about the recycling of blades by carrying out a comparison between three different recycling techniques (solvolysis, pyrolysis and mechanical recycling) on the same starting material, ie EoL blades.

This will contribute to a more sustainable and resource-efficient wind power in interaction with our society. Our vision is to enable profitable circular business models in the wind power industry through increased knowledge about the recycling and reuse of EoL wind turbine blades.