KTU propose new method for wind turbine blade recycling

The KTU researchers said that as wind turbine blades reach the end of their operational lifespan, the issue of disposal becomes a serious concern.

Made from composite materials such as layers of fibreglass or carbon fibre reinforced with epoxy or polyester resin, the blades can be used for 20-25 years. While these materials ensure the strength, lightness, and stiffness of turbine blades, the researchers said they also complicate the recycling of the equipment.

In 2022, Dr Samy Yousef, a researcher at KTU’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design, and a team of researchers from the Lithuanian Energy Institute, began experimenting with different ways to recycle wind turbine blades.

The experiments included breaking down old composite materials, such as glass fibre-reinforced epoxy resin composites, by using the thermochemical treatment process of pyrolysis along with a ‘special’ catalyst.

The researchers said the aim was to separate valuable components for reuse and recycle old composite materials into useful energy, though limitations in the availability of samples interfered with the identification of the actual recycling outcome.