The circular economy is a never-ending serpentine story which twists and turns. One thing we are learning is we cannot assume what we purchase can be thoughtfully recycled for a future life. Mail Online posted an article regarding the end of the road for wind turbine blades on February 27, 2022. We were taken aback to discover they may be difficult to recycle.
Why Are Wind Turbine Blades Difficult to Recycle?
Well, in the first instance they can be longer than a Boeing 747 wing, measuring 300-feet from base to tip. And in the second, they weigh up to eight tons equivalent to more than a few Honda Civics. Even if we cut wind turbine blades in three pieces they could be difficult to shoehorn into a recycling plant.
Main Online describes a Texas ‘wind turbine graveyard’ with 4,000 wind turbine blades waiting five years now for a solution. This seems to be somewhere between ‘let the weeds grow over them’ and ‘bury them deep’.
However, there is a more deep-seated problem than human indecision. That’s because we learned wind power blades are a composite of fiberglass and resin that is a real challenge to crush, let alone recycle. Scientists are searching for solutions because the giant blades only last 20 to 25 years.
Is There a Green End of the Road for Wind Turbine Blades?
Resin is an extremely robust material. Some resins come from natural sources, while others are synthetic. We came across a post by Conserve Energy Future suggesting organic resins including epoxy should be biodegradable. However, thermoset ones are not, and burning them releases toxic substances.
This suggests the end of the road for those Texas wind turbine blades may very well be underground, at least for now. Unless of course some inventive genius comes up with a second use. Suggestions we’ve heard include using them to shore up coastlines and for affordable housing.
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