Under the agreement, the two companies have committed to developing sustainable alternatives for wind turbine blades and creating a competitive and reliable supply chain. They are currently producing and installing a 20m blade for a 0.5MW turbine and have plans for an 80m blade.
Voodin Blades is a Germany-based start-up developing sustainable rotor blades for wind turbines. Stora Enso is a global supplier of mass timber products, including LVL (laminated veneer lumber), a construction material suitable for wind power construction.
“With the current energy crisis and ambitious decarbonisation goals, wind energy has never been more in demand,” said Lars Völkel, executive vice president, Wood Products Division, Stora Enso.
“Through this partnership with Voodin Blades we further accelerate our ability to develop a sustainable and competitive supply chain for the growing market of wind turbine blades.”
Wind turbine blades are typically produced with fibreglass and carbon fibre, energy-intensive non-renewable plastics made from petrochemicals that cannot be easily recycled and often end up in landfills. By developing lighter blades with sustainable wood, Stora Enso and Voodin Blades aim to reduce overall dependency on fossil fuel extraction.
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“The wind industry as a key driver towards carbon neutrality needs to become 100 per cent sustainable and environmentally friendly,” said Joachim Knapp, mechanical engineer and automation expert at Voodin Blades.
“With the installation of the 20m blade, we are opening a path towards a more sustainable future. In time we will start to develop and manufacture blades for future multi-megawatt turbines.”
Stora Enso is using 100 per cent sustainable wood for the new blades. The first 20m blade will be developed using its LVL product, which has a high load-bearing capacity that easily supports large-scale rotary blades. Unlike steel and concrete, LVL is relatively lightweight to transport on-site without heavy-duty equipment. LVL is also a renewable material with a minimal carbon footprint.
The 20m blade will be installed on a 0.5MW turbine near Warburg, Germany by the end of 2022.
In addition to its collaboration with Voodin Blades, Stora Enso recently announced a partnership with wood technology company Modvion to establish wood as the material of choice for wind turbine towers.
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