Wind energy, both onshore and offshore, plays a critical role in the world’s transition to carbon-free energy sources. With a product lifespan of 30 years and a wind turbine recyclability rate of 85% to 90%, the wind power industry is now looking to close the remaining gap by designing and manufacturing the first 100% recyclable wind turbine blade.

 

 

©credit Manche Drones Production

 

The ZEBRA (Zero wastE Blade ReseArch) project, driven by IRT Jules Verne, now brings together industrial companies and technological centers – Arkema, CANOE, ENGIE, Suez, LM Wind Power, Owens Corning – to tackle with this new challenge.

 

Towards highly recyclable composites

The ZEBRA (Zero wastE Blade ReseArch) project, driven by IRT Jules Verne, brings together industrial companies and technical centers to demonstrate on a full scale the technical, economic and environmental relevance of thermoplastic wind turbine blades, with an eco-design approach to facilitate recycling.  The project has been launched for a period of 42 months with a budget of 18.5M€.

 

To accelerate the wind power industry’s transition to a circular economy for wind turbine blades, the ZEBRA project establishes a strategic consortium that represents the full value chain: from development of materials, to blade manufacturing, to wind turbine operation and decommissioning, and finally recycling of the decommissioned blade material.

 

> Read the press release here <