The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory has made a new bio-derivable resin for wind turbine blade manufacturing that can be chemically recycled and reused—a major moment for the wind market.
The recyclable resin, called PolyEster Covalently Adaptable Network (PECAN), has performed just as well in strength tests as current products that can withstand weather impacts…and even outperformed some thermoplastic resins.
Why do recyclable blades matter? Old wind turbine blades, which can be as long as a football field, have historically ended up in landfills. There will be more than 40 million tons of blade waste worldwide by 2050, according to the NREL.
But: After their 20-year lifespans, the 9-meter PECAN blades can be shredded and used for concrete filler. The PECAN method will “foster a circular economy for energy materials,” said an NREL director.
What would be your main concerns or questions before using the new blades?
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