In light of current economic, environmental, and geopolitical challenges related to securing and diversification of energy sources, wind energy has received significant attention from the European partners as a green technology. This is manifested by its acquisition of more than 10% of renewable energy sources in the EU region. However, the end-of-life wind turbine blades (WTB) represent a new global challenge that requires effective solutions with high economic and environmental performance. Within this framework, the FOF-WTB project is developed to decompose resin fraction in WTB to flammable oil and gaseous products using mechanical and pyrolysis treatments. While short fibers fraction will remain as a solid residue contaminated with some undecomposed organic compounds and carbon particles. These contaminations will be removed using chemical dissolution treatment. Subsequently, the purified fibers will be used to strengthen cementitious matrix to maximize its application and verify its mechanical performance. Finally, the environmental performance of the suggested WTB valorization approach will be evaluated using the life cycle assessment (LCA). The thermochemical experiments will be conducted according to the Technology Readiness Levels concept up to TRL5 using thermogravimetric analyzer and mini-pyrolysis plant. The project will be conducted at Kaunas University of Technology as a main coordinator and Lithuanian Energy Institute as a partner for 36 months. The project consists of six Work Packages (WPs) distributed as follows. WP1,2: Study of pyrolysis and catalytic pyrolysis kinetic behaviour of WTB (TRL3). WP3,4: Study of pyrolysis and catalytic pyrolysis of WTB using a mini-pyrolysis plant (TRL5). WP5: Recovery and purification of short fibers from the solid product of pyrolysis, and then their reuse as fillers to improve mechanical performance of cementitious matrix. WP6: Study of the environmental impacts of the proposed treatment using LCA.
Project funding:
Projects funded by the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL), Projects carried out by researchers’ teams
Project results:
By the end of the project, we will have an environmentally friendly solution for recycling wind turbine blades and the results will be published in five different articles. The results will also be presented at several conferences.
Period of project implementation: 2023-04-12 - 2026-03-31
Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology
Project partners: Lithuanian Energy Institute
