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Siemens Gamesa has launched a wind turbine blade that can be recycled at the end of its lifecycle, in what the company claims is a world first.
Currently components of a wind turbine such as the tower and the nacelle, which contains the gearbox, can be recycled. However, the composite materials used in the blades have been more difficult to dispose of.
In an announcement today (7 September) Siemens Gamesa said the first six 81-meter long ‘RecyclableBlades’ have been produced at its factory in Aalborg, Denmark.
The company explained its blades are made from a combination of materials cast together with a new resin type to form a strong and flexible lightweight structure. The chemical structure of this makes it possible to efficiently separate the resin from the other components at end of the blade’s working life.
Through this mild process, Siemens said, the properties of the blade’s materials are protected which is in contrast to existing methods of recycling. Ultimately, the process means the materials can be reused following separation.
Siemens Gamesa has already reached agreements with three of its major customers including RWE, which will pilot the new blades next year, as well as EDF Renewables and German firm WPD AG.
Andreas Nauen, chief executive of Siemens Gamesa, said: “The time to tackle the climate emergency is now, and we need to do it in a holistic way. In pioneering wind circularity – where elements contribute to a circular economy of the wind industry – we have reached a major milestone in a society that puts care for the environment at its heart.”
Additionally the company said the new blades will help it to achieve its target of producing a fully recyclable wind turbine by 2040.
Gregorio Acero, head of quality management and health, safety, and environment at Siemens Gamesa, said: “Our aspiration is to produce wind turbines that can generate renewable electricity for 20-30 years.
“When they reach the end of their useful life, we can separate the materials and use them for new relevant applications. The RecyclableBlade is a great step in that direction and well ahead of our 2040 goal.”
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