Solutions for recycling emerging wind turbine blade waste in China are not yet effective

Juhua Yang; Fanran Meng; Lixiao Zhang; Jon McKechnie; Yuan Chang; Bingran Ma; Yan Hao; Xiang Li; Kyle Pender; Liu Yang; Gary A. Leeke; Jonathan M. Cullen

doi:10.1038/s43247-023-01104-w

Communications Earth & Environment (Dec 2023)

Solutions for recycling emerging wind turbine blade waste in China are not yet effective

Juhua Yang,
Fanran Meng,
Lixiao Zhang,
Jon McKechnie,
Yuan Chang,
Bingran Ma,
Yan Hao,
Xiang Li,
Kyle Pender,
Liu Yang,
Gary A. Leeke,
Jonathan M. Cullen

Affiliations

Juhua Yang: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Fanran Meng: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sheffield
Lixiao Zhang: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Jon McKechnie: Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham
Yuan Chang: School of Management Science and Engineering, Central University of Finance and Economics
Bingran Ma: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Yan Hao: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Xiang Li: Research Institute, By-Health Corp, Ltd
Kyle Pender: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Strathclyde
Liu Yang: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Strathclyde
Gary A. Leeke: School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham
Jonathan M. Cullen: Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01104-w
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 4, no. 1
pp. 1 – 14

Abstract

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Abstract Wind power supply chains are evolving as markets expand to reach climate goals. With the largest installed wind power capacity globally, China must deal with increasing composite turbine waste and anticipate its associated costs. Here we predict the quantity and composition of wind turbine blade waste based on historic deployment. A high-resolution database containing 14 turbine capacities (150–5500 kilowatts) was compiled based on 104 turbine models. The environmental and financial costs of waste treatment options were evaluated using a bottom-up approach. Based on current installations and future projections, 7.7 to 23.1 million tonnes of blade waste will be generated in China by 2050. Technologies exist to recycle glass fibre from blade waste, but these solutions vary in level of maturity and are not always commercially available, cost-competitive, or environmentally sustainable. Our findings can inform decision-makers in governments and industry on the pathways to carbon neutrality.

Published in Communications Earth & Environment

ISSN: 2662-4435 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Geology; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.nature.com/commsenv/

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