IEA Wind TCP

The challenges related to the recycling of wind turbine blades are broad and range from technical challenges to legislation disparities and lack of information on the materials to be recycled. The recycling process is a complex value chain involving several stakeholders and many different institutions are working to address specific issues.

Task 45 has three topical work packages.

• Task 2.1 Waste prevention
• Task 2.2 Reuse and Repurpose
• Task 2.3 Recycling and Recovery

This WP brings together researchers, and industries, in the field of thermoset composite recycling and wind turbine blade design and manufacturing. Based on reviews of the existing recycling processes this WP will analyze the strengths, weaknesses, and TRL of existing and emerging recycling processes. This analysis will be combined with information from WP3, where the processes will be studied according to their performance on the economic, environmental, and social dimensions. In addition, WP2 will be connected to WP4 to study the role and influence of legislation and standards on the development of existing or new recycling processes.

• Task 3.1 Integrated Life Cycle Assessment with Social and Economic Factors
• Task 3.2 Value Chain Analysis and Traceability
• Task 3.3 Sustainable Business Models and the Circular Economy

• Task 4.1 Standardizations and Certifications
• Task 4.2 Legislations

Legislation and standards are powerful levers to promote the recycling of products. In this WP, the various legislative tools and existing legislations framing the recycling of wind turbine blades will be reviewed as well as standards and certification schemes. The review will also look into sectors facing similar challenges and include legislation for glass fiber composites in general. The WP will provide a preliminary review at the beginning of the task at M6 (Milestone 4.1) so that the other topical WP can analyze the influence of potential legislation and standards on the technical aspect of recycling as well as on the economic, environmental, and social dimension of recycling. Towards the end of the task, WP4 will collect the knowledge and analysis performed in WP2 and WP3 in order to formulate the guidelines for the treatment of end-of-life wind turbine blades and how to best implement a recycling or other end-of-life solution.