The KTU researchers said that as wind turbine blades reach the end of their operational lifespan, the issue of disposal becomes a serious concern.
Made from composite materials such as layers of fibreglass or carbon fibre reinforced with epoxy or polyester resin, the blades can be used for 20-25 years. While these materials ensure the strength, lightness, and stiffness of turbine blades, the researchers said they also complicate the recycling of the equipment.
In 2022, Dr Samy Yousef, a researcher at KTU’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design, and a team of researchers from the Lithuanian Energy Institute, began experimenting with different ways to recycle wind turbine blades.
The experiments included breaking down old composite materials, such as glass fibre-reinforced epoxy resin composites, by using the thermochemical treatment process of pyrolysis along with a ‘special’ catalyst.
The…
